Richard L. Duchossois ’44 forged a prodigious legacy in the years that followed his enrollment at Washington and Lee as a first-year student in the fall of 1940.
Duchossois’ time as a student at W&L was short-lived, as he was called to active service in the United States Army in 1942 following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and rose to the rank of major, after serving much of his time with the 610th Tank Destroyer Battalion in General George Patton’s Third Army. Duchossois landed on Utah Beach in Normandy and served in other key conflicts such as the Battle of the Bulge. He received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, and on the 70th anniversary of D-Day, he was honored with induction into the French Legion of Honor.
Following his military career, Duchossois built a thriving career in business, turning Thrall Car Manufacturing into the second-largest builder of rail freight cars. His business dealings led to the formation of The Duchossois Group, an organization with holdings primarily in the manufacturing and investment sectors.
Duchossois developed an affinity for horse racing in the 1960’s and went on to become a significant figure in the sport. By the late 1970’s he helped form the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, and in 1983 he purchased an ownership stake in the Arlington Park racetrack. He later bought stake in Churchill Downs, bringing Arlington under the famed track’s auspices. Duchossois served on the Churchill Downs Board of Directors until retiring in 2019 at the age of 97.
Duchossois’ significant impact in horse racing has been celebrated by being awarded three Eclipse Awards, a Jockey Club Gold Medal and induction into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2019.
Through the years, Duchossois has shown extraordinary generosity towards Washington and Lee and the school’s Department of Athletics. His efforts have helped enhance the university's athletics facilities, including his support in the construction of the Duchossois Tennis Center in 1997, the renovation of Wilson Field in 2008 and most recently, the completion of the Richard L. Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center in 2020.
In 2015, Duchossois became just the fifth alumnus in the school’s history to receive the prestigious Washington Award.
