Rich Riesenbeck ‘62

A graduate of the Class of 1962, Rich Riesenbeck is the owner and operator of Golden Eagle Distributing, a distributor of Anheuser Busch Products.  Rich is the oldest of four Riesenbeck alumni.  Brother Bill graduated in 1967; Sister Debbie Hanak was a graduate in 1968, and his late sister Denise graduated in 1972.  Rich has always been very close with his family, and is most proud of the accomplishments of his own three children. 

Education has always been a top priority for Rich.  As such his children, Karen, Chrissy and Michael all have earned both bachelors and master’s degrees.  Karen, who is a stay at home mother of three, is a graduate of the prestigious School of Journalism at the University of Missouri.  Chrissy is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s Hotel and Hospitality Program, while youngest son Michael recently received his MBA from St. Louis University.  Chrissy runs all of Golden Eagle’s Distribution in South Central Iowa, and Michael is beginning to run all of the Hannibal operations for Golden Eagle. 

Golden Eagle Distributing has annual sales in excess of $40 million, and handles the distribution of Anheuser Busch products, Monster Energy drinks, bottled water, Sprits of USA beverages, and Taste of Florida mixers in northeast Missouri and south-central Iowa.  With warehouses in Hannibal, MO; Kirksville, MO; Ottumwa, IA; and Burlington, IA; Rich has worked tirelessly to build a business that is not only successful, but also contributes back to the local area communities.

Rich has served on the board of the Hannibal Kiwanis and the YMCA in addition to being a member of the Missouri Beer Wholesalers Association and the National Beer Wholesalers Association.  Rich and Golden Eagle have helped fund programs in the 22 counties that they serve for the betterment of the community. 

After graduating from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in Marketing Management, Rich went to work for Anheuser Busch for eighteen years in Marketing.  A family business, Rich purchased McDowell Distributing in 1981 and renamed it Golden Eagle Distributing, as it remains today.  Rich also owns Golden Eagle Spotting Company here in St. Louis, which is a product transporting company and recently has opened Golden Eagle Coach which specializes in tour busses.

A graduate of Epiphany of our Lord, Rich’s two Bishop DuBourg mentors were Coach Tom Finan, and Fr. Morris.  Rich believes that the greatest thing Bishop DuBourg High School did for him, was to prepare him for a diverse life ahead.  With Michael and Chrissy becoming more active in Golden Eagle, Rich has been able to take more time away from business, and enjoys fishing, golfing, and riding Harley Davidson motorcycles.