CHICAGO — John Riddle, Owner and President of Atlanta-based Riddle & Associates, a trade show management and consulting company, passed away on Feb. 13, 2026, at age 85.
Prior to his founding of Riddle & Associates, Riddle spent a brief amount of time in the Triple-A baseball league, before suffering an Achilles injury. He went on to work for the Atlanta Braves for nine years, serving as the Director of Operations and then Director of Sales. He then pivoted to the General Manager position at the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau in the mid-70s.
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Riddle was responsible for the booking of The NAMM Show for Atlanta in 1977, and then by the winter of 1978, he had made the jump into trade show management services and was providing services and support to NAMM and other associations and groups. His first show with NAMM was the Winter Market of 1978.
Over the course of more than 50 shows, Riddle had established his knowledge and professionalism in such a way that helped to guide not just exhibitors at the show, but the NAMM staff as well.
“I can say without question that I don’t think there’s another association who does as much for their membership or for their industry as NAMM does. You spend 10 minutes with NAMM and you know it’s all about members and education. I think that’s a tribute to the NAMM leadership over the years,” Riddle said in a video interview for the NAMM Oral History Program in 2020.
“John Riddle was more than a fixture at NAMM; he was part of its foundation. He could step into any role with a steady hand and a servant’s heart. What set John apart wasn’t just his operational excellence; it was the lifelong friendships he built everywhere he went. He didn’t simply support the NAMM Show, he strengthened the spirit of family that defines it, what we lovingly call the NAMMily,” said Cindy Sample, Director of Operations at NAMM. “Whenever you asked how he was doing, he’d smile and say, ‘Welp, if I was any better, I’d be twins!’ That line captured his spirit… steady, positive, grounded in gratitude. John will be profoundly missed. We are better because of him.”
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Riddle & Associates also managed the Clean Show from 1992 until 2019, prior to its acquisition by Messe Frankfurt, with Riddle himself being personally involved with the show since 1981.
According to a 2019 interview with the Textile Care Allied Trades Association, Riddle planned to retire after the Clean Show of 2019, giving him more time to spend with his wife and family, which includes three grandchildren.
Riddle was also a staple at the TSE Gold 100 Awards & Summit, where the shows he managed and produced, like The NAMM Show, were honored for their scale.
“John was a great friend to everyone in the industry, who shared his experience and relationships freely,” Rick Simon, TSE Chairman and CEO of United Service Companies, said. “He was a regular attendee at our TSE events, and he lit up the room with his smile and wit. He will be deeply missed by all of those who had the pleasure of working with him.”
“John’s passion for life, his curiosity, and his love of learning radiated into every aspect of his life. He didn’t just learn to ski. He learned to tune skis and did so in a workshop he set up in his basement. He didn’t just flyfish. He studied and practiced the art of tying flies. He didn’t just learn to play the bass. He taught himself music theory. He didn’t just learn to ride horses. He learned to rope steers. He leaves all of us with the gift of having known and loved him,” states his obituary.
