Biography

August 26, 1945 · Munhall, Pennsylvania, USA

Thomas Joseph Ridge

Governor of Pennsylvania (1995-2001), he became the U.S. Director of Homeland Security after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1983-1995.

During his 1994 run for Pennsylvania governor, he accused his Democratic opponent, former Lt. Governor Mark Singel, of being soft on criminals. Singel, who chaired the state's Pardons Board, voted for the July 1994 release of convicted murderer Reginald McFadden. Soon after his release, McFadden was back in jail, following a killing rampage in New York. The McFadden notoriety prompted Ridge to create television ads critical of Singel's history of voting to commute the life sentences of numerous convicts, including murderers. After the ads were shown, Singel lost his lead in the polls, leading to Ridge's election victory.

Was selected as the recipient for the 2006 John F. Kennedy Award, an annual award that honors people of Irish descent for distinguished achievement. But when Timothy A. McDonnell, a Massachusetts bishop, learned that Ridge was pro-abortion, he refused to present him the award. Ultimately, the St. Patrick's Parade Committee agreed to have its president, David J. O'Connor, present the award to Ridge.

CEO, "Ridge Global".