Bill Ridenour

Gov. Jan Brewer appointed William “Bill” Ridenour to an eight-year term on the Arizona Board of Regents in March 2014. He currently serves as a member of the Audit Committee, and Research and Health Sciences Committee. Regent Ridenour was the founder and managing partner of the law firm Ridenour, Hienton & Lewis, PLLC., and is a former Judge Pro Tem of the Maricopa County Superior Court. He joined Fennemore Craig in December of 2015 of counsel. Regent Ridenour is a fourth generation Arizona native.

Regent Ridenour serves on the board of directors for Arizona State University’s College of Public Programs, the University of Arizona Law School Association, the University of Arizona Phoenix Alumni Association, Children’s Steele Research Center, Scottsdale Museum of the West, Heard Museum (Development Chair), and the Arizona State Museum. He is the former chairman of the board for the March of Dimes, and is a founding member of the Arizona Nurses Foundation, as well as the Arizona Bar Foundation. He also serves on the University of Arizona Foundation – President’s Society, and is a member of Governor Brewer’s Task Force on Human Trafficking.

While in graduate school, Regent Ridenour worked in the Phoenix office of Senator Barry M. Goldwater, as well as in the Washington, D.C. office of Senator Paul Fannin, and the National Office of Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.

Regent Ridenour received a bachelor of arts from the University of Arizona in 1966, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with highest distinction. He served as president of the Student Body and as President of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He earned his master’s degree at Eagleton Institute of Practical Politics in 1967, graduating with highest distinction and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona in 1970 where he served as president of the Student Bar Association and was awarded the Chester H. Smith Memorial Scholarship.

He is married to JoElizabeth Ridenour and they have three children. His hobbies include collecting Native American and western art and artifacts.