Northern Kentucky University is proud to recognize Richard “Dick” Murgatroyd for his dedication to education and prosperity in our region, specifically his devoted service to and work at Northern Kentucky University. Murgatroyd is a 1959 graduate of The Ohio State University. Murgatroyd is a long-time resident of northern Kentucky, president and chief executive officer for The Murgatroyd Group and has most recently served as the director of finance, operations and marketing for Visiting Angels in Southwest Ohio. His career has been marked by excellence through his foundational involvement and advocacy for education at universities such as NKU, distinguished government positions as a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives and as Kenton County Judge Executive, as well as his outstanding contributions to radio and broadcasting in Cincinnati.
Throughout his career, Murgatroyd has been exceptionally important to the growth and accomplishments of NKU. Bringing his expertise in radio and broadcasting with him, he served as an NKU faculty member for 12 years. He was also a founding faculty member of NKU’s School of Media and Communications. Beyond his role as a faculty member, Murgatroyd has contributed much of his time and talent to NKU by formerly serving as a member on numerous boards, some of which include: NKU President’s Council from 2003 to 2012, NKU Foundation Board from 1999 to 2011 (now emeritus), Norse Athletics Board, WNKU Board and more. Murgatroyd’s dedication to NKU goes beyond his service as a faculty or board member on campus, as he has also been financially generous to NKU. In 2013, he established the Richard L. Murgatroyd Endowed Scholarship to support undergraduate students demonstrating academic achievement. The scholarship has since been amended to support academic-achieving undergraduate students who are also a part of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, the Eta Rho chapter at NKU, for which Murgatroyd himself had a hand in founding.
Civically, Murgatroyd has volunteered his time to many non-profit boards around the Greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky area. He currently serves on the board of advisors for the Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation, as the program chairman for the Northern Kentucky Heritage League, as a board member for the HOA for Southwick Community in Erlanger, Kentucky and more. Previously, his service has benefitted the region as he has held many board positions, including the former board president of The Point/ Arc (now emeritus), the former board president of the Northern Kentucky Heritage League, a former member of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, a former board member of the Social Venture Partners of Cincinnati, a former board member for the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame, a former board member for the Bluegrass Buckeye Charity Holiday Classic and many others. Murgatroyd’s influence and involvement have benefitted our region’s citizens through his service to the many varying organizations that fill the pages of his curricula vitae.
Murgatroyd has accomplished much in his lifetime and has been recognized for his excellence and service to his communities on multiple occasions. He is the recipient of many awards, including the 1999 NKU Lincoln Award, a 1979 Emmy Award for his work as a producer of a daytime regional network television program, the 2006 Silver Circle Honoree for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award for the Eta Rho Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha, the 2013 Clyde and Mary Middleton Lifetime Achievement Award, a member of the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, a member of the Cambridge Schools Hall of Fame in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio and much more. Murgatroyd has been a mentor and role model for students and an advocate for higher education throughout his professional and philanthropic career. He continues to impact those around him through his invaluable knowledge and expertise, and remains an integral part of NKU’s history and an outstanding advocate for the community and region.
