Richard Becker: 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee
Richard "Rich" Becker graduated in 1975 from Mount Saint Mary's University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Finance. He and his wife, Fran, both played basketball for the Mount and today remain the school's most enthusiastic supporters.
Rich, as a student, also served as Chairman of the Student Union Board, which organized all of the school's social events, including establishing the school's Rathskellar. After graduation, he was named to Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges. In June of this year, Rich and Fran celebrated their 50th college reunion and received this year's Simon Brute Medal, the Alumni Association’s highest honor, awarded annually to its alumni. They currently also serve as Ambassadors for the school’s latest fundraising campaign.
Upon graduating in 1975, Rich began his mortgage banking career at Fannie Mae as a Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Representative. He left in 1977 to join a small, five-employee independent mortgage firm, A.E. Landvoigt, Inc., serving as a Servicing Manager. The company was owned by Ted Briner and Dick Leon, who also served as presidents of the MBAMW. At their encouragement, Rich started attending MBAMW activities in 1978. After serving on its Board for three years, he was elected President of the association in 1990 at age 37. While on the Board, he managed two of the association’s annual conventions and invited sister MBA associations in Virginia and Maryland to form a regional conference, which he also chaired. During his tenure, he worked closely with HUD to assist with the development of the first regional training session for FHA Direct Endorsement Underwriters, newly instituted at the time. Rich was also active on the FHA/VA and Loan Production committees for the National MBA. Over his 45-year career, he held roles in servicing, secondary marketing, loan origination, sales, branch management, and company loan production before retiring in December 2020 as Senior Vice President at Presidential Savings Bank.
He and his wife recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They raised their three children in Northern Virginia before moving to their fully restored 105-year-old home on the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis in 2002. They feel truly blessed to have all three of their married children and seven grandchildren living within 15 minutes of their family homestead.
In retirement, Rich enjoys watching and attending sporting events, especially those of his grandchildren, and has sponsored athletes at the nearby Naval Academy. He and his family regularly volunteer at a West Annapolis food pantry. He and Fran helped in the 1980s with the establishment of the DC, MD, VA Make a Wish Foundation chapter, where they were involved in fundraising events and public relations activities, and now both proudly serve as Emeritus Board Members.
