Robert B. Riss

  • Earned bachelor’s degree from KU School of Business, 1949

  • KU School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, 1998

  • KU Alumni Association president, 1969

  • Member of KU Endowment Board of Trustees Executive Committee, 1974-91

  • KU Alumni Association Distinguished Service Citation recipient, 1976

  • KU Alumni Association Fred Ellsworth Medallion recipient, 1979

Robert B. Riss earned a bachelor’s degree in business from KU in 1949 and became a successful Kansas City-based businessman and civic leader with widespread interests in banking, transportation and real estate.

He served as national president of the KU Alumni Association in 1969. Beginning in 1970, he was a member of the KU Endowment Board of Trustees and served on the executive committee from 1974 to 1991. Riss received the Distinguished Service Citation, KU’s highest honor, in 1976. He was awarded the Fred Ellsworth Medallion in 1979 and the School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998.

In 2013, Riss’ son, Edward S. “Ned” Riss and his wife, Janis, made a $1 million gift in his honor toward the construction of Capitol Federal Hall. The Riss family also generously donated the collection of rare books and documents on display in the Dean’s Suite of Capitol Federal Hall.