Clancy Ridley wore two notable hats as one of Atlanta’s top businessmen -- as chairman of Haverty’s furniture stores and as a senior partner with the King & Spalding law firm.
L. Phillip Humann of Atlanta, who followed Mr. Ridley as chairman of Haverty’s, said his predecessor deserves a share of the credit for the company’s traversing the treacherous currents that inundated other furniture merchandisers during the past decade.
“Remember that Clancy was on our board of directors for 20 years before he became chairman for a decade, so he came to that high position really knowing our business,” Mr. Humann said. “He possessed unusual intelligence and complete integrity.”
Haverty’s CEO Clarence Smith of Atlanta said Mr. Ridley “helped us step up our game” during the turbulent 2000s. “He encouraged us to invest in our business, open outlets in central Florida and Washington, D.C., and update our distribution facilities,” he said.
Clancy Ridley was the great-grandson of J.J. Haverty, who with his brother Michael opened the first Haverty's store in downtown Atlanta in 1885. The company has retained a strong family influence ever since.
Before accepting the Haverty’s chairmanship in 2000, Mr. Ridley was with King & Spalding for nearly 30 years. He was esteemed for his vision and drive during the firm’s transition from regional to national prominence.
Mason Stephenson of Atlanta, a King & Spalding partner, said Mr. Ridley was a highly collaborative leader in his capacity as chairman of the firm’s policy committee (essentially its board of directors) and as head of its corporate team, which oversees mergers, acquisitions and capital-raising activities.
“Clancy was a trend spotter,” said Michael Egan III of Atlanta, another King & Spalding partner. “He was ahead of almost everyone in the legal profession when it came to recognizing the need to adapt to changes in technology.”
In 1987 Mr. Ridley co-authored with Peter Quittmeyer and John Matuszeski a treatise on software licensing. Entitled “Computer Software Agreements: Forms and Commentary,” it still is a must-read source for practitioners of high-tech law, Mr. Egan said.
Clarence “Clancy” Haverty Ridley, 69, died Thursday at St. Joseph’s Hospital of complications from a staph infection. A celebration of his life is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Cathedral of Christ the King. His ashes will be placed in the Cathedral of St. Philip columbarium after the evensong service there Sunday. SouthCare Cremation and Funeral Society, Marietta, is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ridley had strong academic credentials. A Westminster Schools graduate, he earned a bachelor’s in English from Yale, a master’s in business administration at Harvard and a law degree from the University of Virginia.
A tireless volunteer in his community, he chaired the board of St. Joseph's Health System and the Board of Visitors of Emory University. He also was a founding trustee of the Atlanta Girls School. In addition, he served on the boards of the Atlanta Ballet, Leadership Atlanta, the High Museum of Art, the Carter Center and the Atlanta Opera.
His wife of 42 years, Eleanor Ridley, said he enjoyed biking with family members, whether they were in Atlanta or abroad, including biking through India, China and several countries in Europe. He also was a runner, competing in more than 20 Peachtree Road Races and several triathlons.
She said he signed his name as Clarence, but otherwise was known to all as Clancy.
Survivors also include two daughters, Augusta Ridley of Rockville, Md., and Clare Ridley of St. Louis; two sisters, Haden Winborne and Clare Ranney, both of Atlanta; a brother, Frank Ridley of Amelia Island, Fla.; and two grandsons.
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