Richard DeVos

Richard DeVos Sr.
Richard DeVos Sr.
Born	Richard Marvin DeVos Sr.; 4 March 1926 (age 100); Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Died	6 September 2018 (aged 92); Ada, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, businessman
Years active	1959–2018
Known for	Co-founder of Amway, owner of Orlando Magic

Richard Marvin DeVos Sr. (March 4, 1926 – September 6, 2018) was an American billionaire entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of Amway alongside Jay Van Andel (which was reorganized into Alticor in 2000), and as the proprietor of the NBA team Orlando Magic. In 2012, Forbes placed him as the 60th richest individual in the United States and ranked him 205th worldwide, estimating his net worth at $5.1 billion.

Early life

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Dutch-American parents Ethel Ruth (Dekker) and Simon Cornelius DeVos, who were employed in the electrical sector, DeVos attended Grand Rapids Christian School and later enrolled at Calvin College, where he became a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Corps.

Amway

In 1959, DeVos partnered with his schoolmate Jay Van Andel to establish Amway, a multi-level marketing company initially focused on distributing cleaning products, building upon a prior business model they had developed. Over time, they expanded Amway into a global distributor offering a wide array of products.

Books

DeVos authored multiple books, including Compassionate Capitalism and Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons For Life, the latter detailing his experience with a heart transplant in the United Kingdom in 1997 after being denied one in the United States due to his age and diabetes. He had previously undergone two heart bypass surgeries in 1983 and 1992. In 1975, he co-wrote Believe! with Charles Paul Conn and released his autobiography, Simply Rich, in 2014.

Sports ownership

In 1991, DeVos acquired the NBA franchise Orlando Magic for $85 million following an unsuccessful attempt to secure an MLB expansion team for Orlando.

He also owned three teams within the IHL: the Orlando Solar Bears, Grand Rapids Griffins, and Kansas City Blades. When the IHL ceased operations, both the Solar Bears and Blades folded, while the Griffins transitioned into the American Hockey League under the ownership of DeVos’s son, Dan DeVos.

To assist with financing the Orlando Magic's arena, DeVos obtained public funding from Orange County, Florida. The venue originally bore Amway’s name (Amway Center), now renamed Kia Center; however, utilizing public funds for this purpose generated some controversy.

Boards

DeVos held a position on Northwood University's board of trustees and served as president of the Council for National Policy. He was also a trustee for Philadelphia's National Constitution Center, a museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, he contributed to the legacy board of Christian Leaders Institute, a nonprofit established by Henry Reyenga Jr., inspired by encouragement from both DeVos and Ron Parr.

Political involvement

A major benefactor of the U.S. Republican Party and conservative groups such as Focus on the Family and the American Enterprise Institute, DeVos supported politicians like Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. He held the role of finance chairman for the Republican National Committee. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan appointed him to serve on the President's Commission on the HIV Epidemic, where he attracted criticism over comments concerning individuals with AIDS. DeVos was also a steadfast opponent of same-sex marriage.

He maintained a long-standing close friendship with former President Gerald and First Lady Betty Ford, acting as an honorary pallbearer at Gerald Ford’s state funeral and serving as an honorary trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

Donations

In 1970, he helped establish the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, a conservative American grant-making entity headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The philanthropic efforts of the DeVoses primarily supported sectors such as education, healthcare, the arts, historic preservation—including projects like Mount Vernon—and conservative policy organizations like The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Notable educational donations include funding for the Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Grand Valley State University, the Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse at Hope College, and the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Arts and Worship at Grand Rapids Christian Schools. Additionally, the foundation contributed to establishing the Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida.

Personal life

Richard DeVos was the father of Dan DeVos, who owns the Grand Rapids Griffins hockey team; Richard Jr. ("Dick"), who is married to former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and was a candidate for Michigan governor in 2006; as well as Cheri and Doug DeVos. As a devoted member of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, he dedicated his last ten years to efforts aimed at reuniting it with the Reformed Church in America—a division that had separated his grandparents since 1857.

Death

He passed away at his residence in Ada, Michigan on September 6, 2018, at the age of 92.

External links

Campaign contributions by Richard DeVos at Newsmeat