George Roche III
Encyclopedia
George Charles Roche III (May 16, 1935 – May 5, 2006) was the 11th president of Hillsdale College
, serving from 1971 to 1999. Although Roche led Hillsdale out of a near financial collapse and raised the college to national prominence, his contributions are often overshadowed by a scandal surrounding an alleged affair between Roche and his daughter-in-law, Lissa Jackson Roche, which led him to resign.
Roche received his bachelors degree from Regis College (now Regis University) in 1956. He later received a masters and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado
.
Prior to becoming president of Hillsdale College Roche was a professor at the Colorado School of Mines
. He also worked with the Foundation for Economic Education
.
The Center for Constructive Alternatives seminar program and the college's widely circulated speech digest, Imprimis
, were started during Roche's years as college president. Under his leadership, many new buildings were constructed, including a sports complex that bears his name. Roche authored many books, such as Legacy of Freedom, The Bewildered Society, and The Book of Heroes, although it is believed that Lissa Roche, his daughter-in-law who worked at the college, was the ghost writer for his later books. In the case of The Book of heroes Lissa is sometimes listed as a co-author and was acknowledged as a major contributor in the book introduction.
Roche was appointed chairman of the National Council on Educational Research
by Ronald Reagan
in 1984.
The scandal broke out in 1999 when the wife of George Roche IV, Lissa Jackson Roche, claimed to have had an affair spanning 19 years with her husband's father. Lissa had threatened suicide, and her husband found her in the college arboreum with a handgun, and with her blood still warm, but unable to prevent her self-inflicted death. Following his resignation in November 1999, Roche left public life and moved to Colorado. The widely publicized scandal brought national attention to Roche and Hillsdale. A 2000 book, Hillsdale: Greek Tragedy in America's Heartland, explored the controversial events and questioned whether Lissa Roche's death was actually a suicide.
Roche denied the allegations made by Lissa.
After the scandal Roche moved to a remote cabin in Colorado. He visited Michigan briefly in 2005 to celebrate his seventieth birthday. He died on May 5, 2006, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
, serving from 1971 to 1999. Although Roche led Hillsdale out of a near financial collapse and raised the college to national prominence, his contributions are often overshadowed by a scandal surrounding an alleged affair between Roche and his daughter-in-law, Lissa Jackson Roche, which led him to resign.
Roche received his bachelors degree from Regis College (now Regis University) in 1956. He later received a masters and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado
University of Colorado
The University of Colorado system is a system of public universities in Colorado consisting of three universities in four campuses: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and University of Colorado Denver in downtown Denver and at the Anschutz Medical Campus in...
.
Prior to becoming president of Hillsdale College Roche was a professor at the Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
The Colorado School of Mines is a small public teaching and research university devoted to engineering and applied science, with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the Earth's natural resources. Located in Golden, Colorado, CSM was ranked 29th, in America among national...
. He also worked with the Foundation for Economic Education
Foundation for Economic Education
The Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest free-market organizations established in the United States to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Murray Rothbard recognizes FEE for creating a "crucial open center" that he credits with launching the movement...
.
The Center for Constructive Alternatives seminar program and the college's widely circulated speech digest, Imprimis
Imprimis
Imprimis is the monthly speech digest of Hillsdale College, described by Salon.com as "the most influential conservative publication you've never heard of" and by Rush Limbaugh as "one of the best and most important publications that I read."-History:Imprimis was founded in 1972 by Clark Durant...
, were started during Roche's years as college president. Under his leadership, many new buildings were constructed, including a sports complex that bears his name. Roche authored many books, such as Legacy of Freedom, The Bewildered Society, and The Book of Heroes, although it is believed that Lissa Roche, his daughter-in-law who worked at the college, was the ghost writer for his later books. In the case of The Book of heroes Lissa is sometimes listed as a co-author and was acknowledged as a major contributor in the book introduction.
Roche was appointed chairman of the National Council on Educational Research
National Council on Educational Research
The National Council on Educational Research was part of the U.S. Department of Education. The Council was originally tasked with overseeing the activities of the educational Labs and Centers established by Congress, the largest of which was the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory located...
by Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in 1984.
The scandal broke out in 1999 when the wife of George Roche IV, Lissa Jackson Roche, claimed to have had an affair spanning 19 years with her husband's father. Lissa had threatened suicide, and her husband found her in the college arboreum with a handgun, and with her blood still warm, but unable to prevent her self-inflicted death. Following his resignation in November 1999, Roche left public life and moved to Colorado. The widely publicized scandal brought national attention to Roche and Hillsdale. A 2000 book, Hillsdale: Greek Tragedy in America's Heartland, explored the controversial events and questioned whether Lissa Roche's death was actually a suicide.
Roche denied the allegations made by Lissa.
After the scandal Roche moved to a remote cabin in Colorado. He visited Michigan briefly in 2005 to celebrate his seventieth birthday. He died on May 5, 2006, in Louisville, Kentucky.