William Bill Ritchie The Driven Michigan Auto Dealer and Proud Family Patriarch

Basic Information

When I look at William “Bill” Ritchie’s story, I see a distinctly Michigan kind of success story. It begins with long hours, a dealership floor, a growing family, and a man who believed that money was earned through work rather than simply inherited. It eventually leads to something much more unexpected: a son who became Kid Rock.

Bill Ritchie was born in 1941 in the Dearborn or broader Wayne County area of Michigan. He grew up in Dearborn and graduated from Catholic Central High School before attending Michigan State University. He worked odd jobs to put himself through college and reportedly graduated at the top of his business class.

That early discipline became a recurring theme throughout his life. Bill was not simply interested in making a living. He wanted to build something substantial.

Building a Michigan Auto Dealership Empire

Bill’s professional life revolved around automobiles. He became president and sales manager of Crest Lincoln-Mercury in Sterling Heights, eventually purchasing the dealership outright around 1972.

The dealership became the engine of the family’s financial success. Bill was known for working extraordinarily long weeks, sometimes 60 to 70 hours, and he developed a reputation throughout Detroit’s automobile community as an energetic businessman and captivating speaker.

His influence extended beyond his own dealership. He became active in the Detroit Auto Dealers Association and served in leadership capacities connected with the National Automobile Dealers Association. He was also reportedly involved as chairman of the Detroit auto show during the 1980s.

Bill’s personality was almost as important as his business instincts. People remembered him as gregarious, forceful, entertaining, and capable of holding a room’s attention. He could sell a car, make a business argument, or tell a story with the same confidence.

Yet behind the polished dealership image was a very traditional philosophy about work and money. One saying associated with him captured that attitude perfectly: “Any idiot can earn a dollar, it takes a genius to spend a penny.”

The Family Home in Romeo

The Ritchie family eventually lived in a sprawling property in the Romeo and Bruce Township area, roughly 40 miles north of Detroit. The house has been described as approximately 5,000 to 8,000 square feet, surrounded by several acres.

For the children, this was more than a comfortable suburban home. There was an apple orchard, swimming pool, tennis courts, horses, and a barn or barnyard. It could sound idyllic, but Bill did not intend for his children to simply enjoy the privileges produced by his business.

Work started early.

The children were expected to mow lawns, plant trees, maintain the property, and even sell apples from the orchard. Young Robert Ritchie, who would eventually become Kid Rock, learned that having a successful father did not mean receiving an automatic pass from responsibility.

That combination of privilege and expectation became one of the defining characteristics of the family.

Susan Ritchie and the Family Behind the Business

Bill was married to Susan Elizabeth Ritchie, née Brabbs. Susan was a homemaker who helped anchor the household while Bill concentrated heavily on his business.

Together they raised four children: William “Billy” Ritchie Jr., Carol Ritchie, Robert James Ritchie, and Jill Susanne Ritchie.

The family also had a strong social life. Bill and Susan were known for lively weekend gatherings in their barn, where music was often part of the atmosphere. Bill sometimes played DJ, filling the space with classic rock and outlaw country.

His musical tastes were broad but deeply rooted in American rock and country. Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, and early Sun Records artists were among the sounds associated with the household.

Looking back, it is easy to see how music became part of the family’s DNA.

William Billy Ritchie Jr

William “Billy” Ritchie Jr. was the older son and faced a dramatic childhood accident. At six years old, he lost his right leg in a tractor accident.

Rather than allowing the injury to define him, Billy remained active. He played football and participated in competitive skiing, attracting local attention for his determination.

His adult life was more complicated. He experienced struggles with drug addiction and, by the mid 2000s, was studying to become a yoga instructor.

Billy remained part of the family story throughout his father’s life and later confirmed details surrounding Bill’s death.

Carol Ritchie and the Family Business Connection

Carol Ritchie, Bill and Susan’s older daughter, developed a practical connection to her brother’s entertainment business.

She was involved in aspects of Kid Rock’s finances and bookkeeping, including work connected with Top Dog Records. With business knowledge of her own, Carol became one of the people helping translate the family’s old-school business discipline into the very different world of music and entertainment.

In 2005, she married Eric “Shakes” Gryzbowski, who worked as Kid Rock’s production manager. The wedding became a particularly memorable family event because Kid Rock performed and served as best man.

The connection between family and business was therefore never completely separate. In the Ritchie household, the two worlds frequently overlapped.

Robert James Ritchie and the Birth of Kid Rock

Then there was Robert James Ritchie, who was born in Romeo, Michigan, on January 17, 1971.

He became known to the globe as Kid Rock. He was just his son to Bill.

It wasn’t always easy between them.

Bill was a businessman who was familiar with typical career pathways, discipline, dealerships, and sales. Rap, hip-hop, DJ culture, and the burgeoning Detroit music scene all drew Robert in. Bill had doubts about that path early in his son’s career.

The argument was included into Kid Rock’s creative narrative. The complex relationship between a parent and son was depicted in his song “My Oedipus Complex.”

However, the narrative did not stop there.

Bill became one of Kid Rock’s most dependable advisors as he made a name for himself as a musician, businessman, and performer. From parental conflict, the relationship developed into friendship and professional respect.

Kid Rock frequently acknowledged that he learned how to work, negotiate, create enterprises, and appreciate independence from his father. Bill’s son’s career provided a fresh outlet for his entrepreneurial tendencies.

In the end, he was affectionately referred to as “Daddy Rock.”

Jill Susanne Ritchie Haas

The youngest child, Jill Susanne Ritchie, was born March 5, 1974, in Romeo.

Unlike her father and brother, Jill entered the entertainment world from the acting side. She attended DePaul University’s Theatre School and later graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts in theatre.

Her credits include films such as D.E.B.S., Breakin’ All the Rules, Herbie: Fully Loaded, and Ready to Rumble, along with television appearances including Arrested Development.

Jill married Bradley Haas in 2006, and they have two daughters, born in 2008 and 2010.

Her career was another example of the family’s willingness to follow individual paths rather than forcing every child into the dealership business.

A Family Business That Did Not Become a Family Dynasty

One of the more interesting parts of Bill Ritchie’s story is what did not happen.

The dealership did not pass from Bill to one of his children as a traditional multigenerational family enterprise. Instead, each child pursued a different direction.

Bill sold the Lincoln-Mercury business around 1999 after decades in the automobile industry. By then, the children were establishing their own identities.

Robert was building a music empire. Jill was pursuing acting. Carol was involved with business operations. Billy was navigating his own challenges.

The dealership had provided the foundation, but the children did not simply inherit a predetermined future.

That seems important to me because it explains the unusual balance in Bill’s parenting. He demanded work and responsibility, yet his children ultimately had room to become themselves.

Bill Ritchie’s Love of Music and Kid Rock’s Influences

Bill’s musical tastes also left an unmistakable mark on Robert.

The household soundtrack was not limited to one genre. Classic rock, outlaw country, early rock and roll, and Detroit favorites filled the family’s barn parties.

Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash represented the rebellious side of country. Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins brought the electricity of early rock and roll. Elvis connected the worlds of country, blues, and popular music. The Rolling Stones and Bob Seger added another layer.

Kid Rock eventually developed a sound that blurred boundaries in much the same way.

Rock, rap, country, blues, and Southern influences could coexist in his music. The connection was not simply musical. It reflected a family environment where different sounds could share the same room.

The 1971 Dealership Strike

Bill’s business career also included a particularly turbulent chapter.

In 1971, unionized mechanics and employees at the dealership went on strike. The dispute reportedly escalated into threats and violence. Bill was allegedly run off the road, his family faced threats, and a neighbor’s porch was bombed in an incident reportedly believed to have targeted the Ritchie family.

Bill refused to make major concessions and remained firm during the dispute.

The episode illustrates the kind of environment in which he built his business. His career was not merely polished showrooms and sales figures. It involved labor disputes, personal risks, long hours, and the sometimes brutal realities of running a major automobile dealership.

Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren

Bill eventually became a grandfather and great grandfather, and family remained central to his identity.

He was survived by three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Among his grandchildren was Robert James Ritchie Jr., Kid Rock’s son, born in 1993 to Kelley South Russell.

Robert Jr. later became a father himself, giving Bill another generation of family to celebrate.

Jill’s two daughters also expanded the family tree, creating the kind of multigenerational household Bill had spent decades building toward.

Despite his business success, people close to the family often emphasized that Bill valued his role as a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather more than the size of his dealership.

Life in Charlevoix and Jupiter

After selling the dealership, Bill continued to enjoy a comfortable life. He maintained connections to Michigan, including Charlevoix, while also establishing a home in Jupiter, Florida.

Florida eventually became an important part of his later years.

Bill battled prostate cancer for approximately 14 years. His illness became particularly serious in the final years of his life, yet he continued to spend time with his family and attend important events, including Kid Rock’s Detroit performances in 2023.

His health journey also later intersected with his son’s philanthropic efforts. Kid Rock supported cancer treatment initiatives in his father’s honor, including a donation associated with BAMF Health.

Bill Ritchie’s Final Chapter

On February 15, 2024, William “Bill” Ritchie Sr. passed away at home in Jupiter, Florida, at the age of 82. The family announcement focused on February 15, however some records list February 13 as the date.

Kid Rock declared his father’s passing in public and called him an amazing father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and legendary figure. Additionally, he offered his song “Drinking Beer with Dad,” which is a musical homage to a very personal memory.

Those who knew Bill throughout business, Michigan society, and his son’s profession then paid tribute. Bill was also fondly recalled by former President Donald Trump, who highlighted his achievements and commitment to family while calling him “something special.”

Bill was cremated.

A Father Behind a Famous Son

It is tempting to tell Bill Ritchie’s story simply as the biography of Kid Rock’s father, but that misses much of what made his life distinctive.

He was a businessman who built a dealership from the showroom floor. He was an industry leader in Detroit. He was a husband who shared decades of family life with Susan. He was a father who expected his children to work even when they lived on a sprawling property with every material advantage.

And he was a man whose relationship with his most famous child changed dramatically over time.

The early tension between father and son eventually became collaboration. Bill’s business instincts helped Robert navigate the commercial side of fame, while Robert’s success gave Bill an entirely new arena in which to apply the lessons of entrepreneurship.

For me, that is the most revealing thread in the Ritchie family story: the dealership may have been Bill’s great business achievement, but his real legacy traveled through his children.

FAQ

When was William Bill Ritchie born?

William “Bill” Ritchie Sr. was born in 1941 in the Dearborn or Wayne County area of Michigan, although public records vary regarding his exact birth date.

When did William Bill Ritchie die?

Bill Ritchie died on February 15, 2024, at age 82, at his home in Jupiter, Florida, following a long battle with prostate cancer.

Who was William Bill Ritchie’s wife?

His wife was Susan Elizabeth Ritchie, née Brabbs, who was a homemaker and longtime supporter of the family.

How many children did Bill Ritchie have?

Bill and Susan Ritchie had four children: William “Billy” Ritchie Jr., Carol Ritchie, Robert James “Kid Rock” Ritchie, and Jill Susanne Ritchie.

Was Bill Ritchie Kid Rock’s father?

Yes. Bill Ritchie was the father of Robert James Ritchie, better known professionally as Kid Rock.

What business did Bill Ritchie own?

Bill Ritchie owned and operated Crest Lincoln-Mercury in Sterling Heights, Michigan, after initially serving as its president and sales manager.

Did Kid Rock work in his father’s dealership?

Kid Rock ultimately chose music rather than taking over the family dealership, although his father’s business experience later became an important influence on his entrepreneurial career.

Who is Jill Ritchie?

Jill Ritchie, later Jill Haas, is Bill Ritchie’s youngest daughter and an actress known for films including D.E.B.S., Breakin’ All the Rules, and Herbie: Fully Loaded.

How many grandchildren did Bill Ritchie have?

Bill Ritchie was survived by three grandchildren and two great grandchildren, including members of Kid Rock’s and Jill Ritchie’s families.

What music did Bill Ritchie enjoy?

Bill loved classic rock, outlaw country, early rock and roll, and artists such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Seger.