Laura Ricketts
Encyclopedia
Laura M. Ricketts is co-owner of the Chicago Cubs
and CEO of Ecotravel.com. Ricketts is also a board member of Lambda Legal
and the Housing Opportunities for Women organization. Ricketts' ownership stake in the Cubs
is uniquely noteworthy because it makes her the first openly gay owner of a major-league sports franchise.
. Her father, J. Joseph Ricketts
, founded Ameritrade when Laura was 7. The Ricketts' childhood is described as normal middle class with their father working 80 hour weeks and worrying about paying bills. Ricketts senior let it be known that he wanted his children to establish themselves through their own hard work and would not be allowed to join TD Ameritrade until they reached the age of 30.
Ricketts is a former corporate lawyer. She lives with her partner on the North Side of Chicago. Ricketts received her Bachelors Degree from the University of Chicago
in 1994, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1998. Laura talks of her own struggle to come out; "I came out to my family I would say early to mid 30's. I think for a long time I wasn't really out to myself growing up in Omaha, Neb., to a Catholic conservative family. It took me a while to come out to myself and not long after that I came out to them. I think that it really couldn't of been a better experience. They were all immediately supportive. ... I have been really really fortunate in that regard."
Ricketts is one of four children. Older brother Peter lives in Omaha and was the unsuccessful Republican
nominee for the 2006 U.S. Senate race in Nebraska. Her brother Tom
is chairman of the Chicago Cubs
, and the chief executive officer
of Incapital LLC. He is also a director of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation
. Her youngest brother Todd also lives in Chicago.
reported that the Ricketts family had reached an agreement with the Tribune Company
to purchase the Cubs, Wrigley Field, and 25% of Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Final approval came by a unanimous vote of the other MLB owners in an October 6, 2009 conference call.
On October 27, 2009, the Ricketts family, with Thomas S. Ricketts as board chairman, officially took over 95% ownership of the Chicago Cubs
, Wrigley Field
and 25% ownership of Comcast SportsNet Chicago for a purchase price of $845 million. The Tribune will retain 5% ownership.
Ricketts joins her three siblings, Pete, Todd, Tom on the Board of the Chicago Cubs. Her brother Thomas
is the Chairman and led the acquisition. NBC Sports highlights the significance of Laura Ricketts ownership standing: "Not only has there never been an openly gay sports team owner before, but there have been next to no gay players -- at least none who were willing to admit it before their retirement." Christman of NBC Sports was able to cite three cases in MLB history of job loss suspectedly due to sexual orientation. Christman adds that "perhaps with a lesbian now on the board of a Major League team, some athlete will be able to come out of the closet while still working in a pro sport and not lose their job."
, which is the "nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender
people, and people living with HIV/AIDS". Ricketts' work with Lambda Legal's Midwest Regional Office in Chicago has not only helped push lesbian and gay legal rights to the forefront in the Midwest, but has also led to lasting legal victories. Most prominent is Lambda Legal's efforts toward Same Sex Marriage legalization in Iowa
, 2009. Camilla Taylor, Senior Staff attorney for Lambda Legal, is known as the "lead architect" of Varnum v. Brien, in which the Iowa Supreme Court
upheld a 2007 district court ruling that said it was unconstitutional for Iowa to bar same-sex couples from marrying. Ricketts' philanthropy includes support for other charitable organizations like the Housing Opportunities for Women organization and Howard Brown Health Center
, a Chicago provider of health services for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and CEO of Ecotravel.com. Ricketts is also a board member of Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal is an American civil rights organization that focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender communities as well as people living with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.Lambda's founder William J. Thom, Esq...
and the Housing Opportunities for Women organization. Ricketts' ownership stake in the Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
is uniquely noteworthy because it makes her the first openly gay owner of a major-league sports franchise.
Biography
Ricketts and her three siblings grew up in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. Her father, J. Joseph Ricketts
J. Joseph Ricketts
J. Joseph Ricketts is the founder, former CEO and former chairman of TD Ameritrade, one of the largest online discount brokerages in the world, based in Omaha, Nebraska...
, founded Ameritrade when Laura was 7. The Ricketts' childhood is described as normal middle class with their father working 80 hour weeks and worrying about paying bills. Ricketts senior let it be known that he wanted his children to establish themselves through their own hard work and would not be allowed to join TD Ameritrade until they reached the age of 30.
Ricketts is a former corporate lawyer. She lives with her partner on the North Side of Chicago. Ricketts received her Bachelors Degree from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1994, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1998. Laura talks of her own struggle to come out; "I came out to my family I would say early to mid 30's. I think for a long time I wasn't really out to myself growing up in Omaha, Neb., to a Catholic conservative family. It took me a while to come out to myself and not long after that I came out to them. I think that it really couldn't of been a better experience. They were all immediately supportive. ... I have been really really fortunate in that regard."
Ricketts is one of four children. Older brother Peter lives in Omaha and was the unsuccessful Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for the 2006 U.S. Senate race in Nebraska. Her brother Tom
Thomas S. Ricketts
Thomas S. "Tom" Ricketts is chairman of the Chicago Cubs, and the chief executive officer of Incapital LLC, a Chicago investment bank that packages corporate bonds for retail investors. He is also a director of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation as well as the son of Ameritrade founder J. Joseph...
is chairman of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, and the chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Incapital LLC. He is also a director of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation
TD Ameritrade
TD Ameritrade is an American online broker with over 6 million U.S. customers, and many more internationally, that has grown rapidly through acquisition to become the 746th-largest US firm in 2008. TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation is the owner of TD Ameritrade Inc...
. Her youngest brother Todd also lives in Chicago.
Chicago Cubs
On July 6, 2009, the Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
reported that the Ricketts family had reached an agreement with the Tribune Company
Tribune Company
The Tribune Company is a large American multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, with ten daily newspapers and commuter tabloids including Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida...
to purchase the Cubs, Wrigley Field, and 25% of Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Final approval came by a unanimous vote of the other MLB owners in an October 6, 2009 conference call.
On October 27, 2009, the Ricketts family, with Thomas S. Ricketts as board chairman, officially took over 95% ownership of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
and 25% ownership of Comcast SportsNet Chicago for a purchase price of $845 million. The Tribune will retain 5% ownership.
Ricketts joins her three siblings, Pete, Todd, Tom on the Board of the Chicago Cubs. Her brother Thomas
Thomas S. Ricketts
Thomas S. "Tom" Ricketts is chairman of the Chicago Cubs, and the chief executive officer of Incapital LLC, a Chicago investment bank that packages corporate bonds for retail investors. He is also a director of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation as well as the son of Ameritrade founder J. Joseph...
is the Chairman and led the acquisition. NBC Sports highlights the significance of Laura Ricketts ownership standing: "Not only has there never been an openly gay sports team owner before, but there have been next to no gay players -- at least none who were willing to admit it before their retirement." Christman of NBC Sports was able to cite three cases in MLB history of job loss suspectedly due to sexual orientation. Christman adds that "perhaps with a lesbian now on the board of a Major League team, some athlete will be able to come out of the closet while still working in a pro sport and not lose their job."
Lambda Legal
Ricketts is a board member of Lambda LegalLambda Legal
Lambda Legal is an American civil rights organization that focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender communities as well as people living with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.Lambda's founder William J. Thom, Esq...
, which is the "nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
people, and people living with HIV/AIDS". Ricketts' work with Lambda Legal's Midwest Regional Office in Chicago has not only helped push lesbian and gay legal rights to the forefront in the Midwest, but has also led to lasting legal victories. Most prominent is Lambda Legal's efforts toward Same Sex Marriage legalization in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, 2009. Camilla Taylor, Senior Staff attorney for Lambda Legal, is known as the "lead architect" of Varnum v. Brien, in which the Iowa Supreme Court
Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Iowa. As constitutional head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices....
upheld a 2007 district court ruling that said it was unconstitutional for Iowa to bar same-sex couples from marrying. Ricketts' philanthropy includes support for other charitable organizations like the Housing Opportunities for Women organization and Howard Brown Health Center
Howard Brown Health Center
The Howard Brown Health Center is the Midwest’s premier lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health care organization, leading the region in addressing the comprehensive health care needs of people in the LGBT community. In 1974, a group of medical students founded Howard Brown Health Center as...
, a Chicago provider of health services for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people.