Riddick was born in Wake County, North Carolina, in 1864. He received his B.A. in 1885 from the University of North Carolina and his C.E. degree in 1890 from Lehigh University. In addition, he received honorary LL.D. degrees from Wake Forest College and Lehigh University.
He joined the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1892 as a professor of mechanics and applied mathematics. In 1895 he became the college’s first professor of civil engineering. He served as the vice president of the college from 1908 to 1916.
Riddick became president of the college in 1916, and the following year its name changed to North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering to reflect the increasing emphasis on professional and theoretical aspects of technical education. In 1923 he resigned to become the first dean of the college’s School of Engineering. In 1939 the college gave Riddick an honorary Doctor of Engineering. He died in 1942.
Portrait
of Wallace Carl Riddick
Riddick surveying