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Richard L. Duchossois
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Richard L. Duchossois
Richard Louis Duchossois (/ˈdʌtʃəswɑː/; October 7, 1921 – January 28, 2022) was an American businessman and racehorse owner. He was the founder and chairman of The Duchossois Group, Inc., a family-owned company headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois that had ownership stakes in Arlington Park and Churchill Downs race tracks, and did rail car and defense manufacturing.
Duchossois was the son of Ernestine (Hoessler) and Alphonse Duchossois. He graduated from Morgan Park Military Academy and attended Washington and Lee University, before starting active military service during World War II.
He served in five European campaigns, including Normandy where he was a commander with the 610th Tank Destroyer Battalion of the United States Army. He served as the military governor for the region of Eichstätt and attained the rank of Major before he was released from active service in 1946. He received a Purple Heart for his injuries in combat at the Moselle River.
Richard Duchossois joined Thrall Car Manufacturing Company after World War II and became CEO in 1952. In 1980, the firm purchased Chamberlain Manufacturing Corp. which makes garage door openers, with Duchossois becoming its chairman. At the same time, he retained the chairmanship of the parent company, but appointed his son, Craig, as CEO. The Thrall rail car manufacturer was sold in 2001, and the defense business was sold in 2004.
In 1983, as Chairman of renamed Duchossois Industries (DII), he purchased Arlington Park Race Track. In 2000, Arlington Park merged with Churchill Downs Incorporated, where DII has several seats on the board of directors.
He also owned Des Moines TV Station KDSM-TV (formerly KCBR-TV) from 1983 to 1991.
He served as a director of TCMC, Inc., the Emirates World Series of Racing, and the Thoroughbred Racing Association.
The Chamberlain Group was divested to Blackstone Inc in 2021.
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Richard L. Duchossois
Richard Louis Duchossois (/ˈdʌtʃəswɑː/; October 7, 1921 – January 28, 2022) was an American businessman and racehorse owner. He was the founder and chairman of The Duchossois Group, Inc., a family-owned company headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois that had ownership stakes in Arlington Park and Churchill Downs race tracks, and did rail car and defense manufacturing.
Duchossois was the son of Ernestine (Hoessler) and Alphonse Duchossois. He graduated from Morgan Park Military Academy and attended Washington and Lee University, before starting active military service during World War II.
He served in five European campaigns, including Normandy where he was a commander with the 610th Tank Destroyer Battalion of the United States Army. He served as the military governor for the region of Eichstätt and attained the rank of Major before he was released from active service in 1946. He received a Purple Heart for his injuries in combat at the Moselle River.
Richard Duchossois joined Thrall Car Manufacturing Company after World War II and became CEO in 1952. In 1980, the firm purchased Chamberlain Manufacturing Corp. which makes garage door openers, with Duchossois becoming its chairman. At the same time, he retained the chairmanship of the parent company, but appointed his son, Craig, as CEO. The Thrall rail car manufacturer was sold in 2001, and the defense business was sold in 2004.
In 1983, as Chairman of renamed Duchossois Industries (DII), he purchased Arlington Park Race Track. In 2000, Arlington Park merged with Churchill Downs Incorporated, where DII has several seats on the board of directors.
He also owned Des Moines TV Station KDSM-TV (formerly KCBR-TV) from 1983 to 1991.
He served as a director of TCMC, Inc., the Emirates World Series of Racing, and the Thoroughbred Racing Association.
The Chamberlain Group was divested to Blackstone Inc in 2021.