Richard Waters, the former president and chief executive officer of The Sporting News—who facetiously bemoans that he was required to go to events such as the Super Bowl and World Series as part of his job—earned his bachelor's degree from Hobart in 1950, then went on to earn a master's in business from Harvard Business School. He began his career in 1953 as an associate at the accounting firm of Hunter and Weldon in New York City. In 1955, he moved to Reader's Digest, where he stayed for the next 22 years, becoming executive vice president and chief financial officer. From 1977 through 1981, he was associate dean for external affairs at Harvard Business School, and in 1981 became president and chief executive officer of The Sporting News Publishing Co. Circulation of The Sporting News nearly doubled during his tenure, and he moved subscription circulation to 90 percent and doubled revenues in three years. From 1971 to 1991, he was a member of the Colleges Board of Trustees and was instrumental in establishing the financial security of the Colleges.
