Alan entered the transportation business soon thereafter. On Christmas Eve 1963, Alan’s brother Harvey was awarded a United States Postal Service contract to transport mail between Sherman/Denison and Texarkana, Texas. With the purchase of a tractor-trailer rig, Alan assisted in the operation and served as a relief driver, earning $200 a month for his efforts. The brothers kept the truck rolling seven days a week.

In 1964 Alan partnered with Harvey in the mail transportation business. In addition, he began buying/storing grain and operating a grain elevator this same year. This was the beginning of many business ventures for the young entrepreneur. Besides tending to their growing family, Charlene Ritchey also served as bookkeeper and short-haul driver.

1966 brought another postal contract for service between Vinita, Oklahoma and Dallas, Texas—this contract was operated out of the Ritchey Gin Company, and Alan still personally maintained most of the equipment.

In 1967, Alan purchased his father’s share of Ritchey Gin Company, which by this time had become the largest cotton and grain operation in North Texas and South Oklahoma. Alan also acquired Harvey’s share of the mail transportation business this same year.

In 1968, Alan was awarded the Dallas-Wichita, Kansas mail route that ARI still operates today.

1972 was the year for the first star (long-haul) USPS mail routes—Dallas to Los Angeles and Dallas to San Francisco. These routes required the use of team drivers. (Alan & Glenn Sessums were the drivers for the LA maiden voyage.) Previously, all mail carried that far had been by train. Contracts continued to be administered from the Valley View office; however, the maintenance operation was moved into a facility designed and constructed by Alan and Harvey. This facility has been enlarged and in continuous operation 24 hours a day seven days a week since that time.

In 1974 Alan entered the ranching business when he purchased a 720-acre ranch from his father. This was the first step in building agricultural operations that today include 11,000 acres of farm/ranchland.

On August 30, 1976, of Alan Ritchey, Incorporated was formed, but most of the business was still operated as a sole proprietorship until 1987 when ARI bought the feed mill.

In 1978, Alan sold the cotton and grain businesses to Martindale Feed Mill, a Valley View company located on adjoining property.

1983 was the beginning of the trailer pool business for Alan Ritchey when he was awarded the San Francisco Bulk Mail Center (BMC) contract. The Des Moines BMC trailer pool contract was acquired soon thereafter. Today, our trailer pool numbers over 1100 plus trailers.

In 1986, Alan Ritchey, Inc. expanded into the transportation of general commodities.

In 1989, because of its desire to enhance benefit to employees, ARI created the Profit Sharing & 401K Plan.

In 1992, MFM purchased a bulk feed station in Sulphur Springs (MFM-Sulphur Springs). This facility provides feed for a large number of dairies in that area.

In the Spring of 1994, MFM purchased another feed mill in Marshall, Texas. Extensive renovations continued until January 1995 when full production began.

The state-of-the-art Ritchey Dairy Farm #1 was designed and construction began in Yuba, Oklahoma in 1995. This operation became one of the largest and most modern dairies in the United States, maintaining a herd of 8,000+ and milking 3,400-3,500 cows. The dairy became fully operational in 1999, with on-going improvements .

In 1998 ARI was awarded two USPS Mail Transport Equipment Service Center (MTESC) contracts. These contracts consist of six sites across the United States: San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Springfield, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Long Island, New York.