FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – The chairman of TCU’s board, former Tandy CEO, and founding father of the Fort Price Government Spherical Desk John V. Roach has handed away. He was 83 years outdated.
John V Roach in 2018. (courtesy of TCU)
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Roach was born in 1938 in Stamford, Texas, shifting to Fort Price at age 4 together with his household. Roach’s first job was at his household’s neighborhood grocery retailer.
Roach spent his school years at TCU, the place he held jobs engaged on trains and dealing as an engineer. He earned a level in physics and math earlier than returning to earn a grasp’s in enterprise administration, the place he first discovered about laptop programming.
Roach joined Tandy as a knowledge processing supervisor in 1967. Within the mid-Nineteen Seventies, Roach led Tandy to the forefront of the pc trade. He precisely predicted that the pc would turn into extra private and understood the facility of the microprocessor and the way it might have an effect on the trade.
(courtesy of TCU)
By 1983, Roach had turn into the chairman and CEO of Tandy, holding these positions till his retirement in 1999.
Roach was elected chairman of TCU’s Board of Trustees in 1990 and led a challenge to set TCU’s agenda for the subsequent decade. The trouble was profitable, and TCU noticed regular enrollment, rising educational rankings, and introduced in new management. Roach additionally inspired the College to extend funding in expertise, constructing a $25 million expertise heart.
Roach additionally helped launch the Tandy Know-how Students Program, which rewards academics and college students who lead in expertise. This system is now known as the RadioShack Nationwide Train Awards Program and has awarded thousands and thousands of {dollars} throughout the nation.
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Roach’s management at TCU was additionally marked by monetary prosperity. Throughout his tenure on the board, the endowment grew to $1 billion, placing TCU close to the highest of the nation’s universities.
Roach performed an influential function in serving to choose TCU’s management, recruiting Dr. Michael Ferrari as chancellor in 1998.
On the finish of his life, Roach served as an Emeritus TCU Trustee and a board member of the TCU Neeley Faculty of Enterprise Board of Guests, Van Cliburn Basis, and Fort Price Government Roundtable.
A number of outstanding Fort Price figures issued statements expressing their condolences.
TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. stated,
“Texas Christian College is deeply saddened by the passing of John Roach. John had probably the most great affect on TCU; he was a loyal fan, chief and visionary who was captivated with TCU in all methods attainable. John was devoted firstly to altering the lives of our college students. His management of the Board of Trustees and College throughout a time of unprecedented change and development has made TCU the highest nationwide college is it right now. Personally, Megan and I might be without end indebted to him for bringing us to Fort Price and TCU 19 years in the past. This can be a large loss for the Horned Frog household.”
Mark L. Johnson, Chair of the TCU Board of Trustees stated,
“I’ll all the time keep in mind John for his eager enterprise and financial acumen and his decades-long, servant management of TCU. His dedication to this nice college, whether or not main the Board, making monetary contributions, or attending an athletic or social occasion, exemplified an amazing fiduciary accountability in addition to a real love for his alma mater. John really desired for every pupil to be well-prepared for the street forward. From this level on, I can’t stroll the grounds of the campus with out considering of him. I pray God’s blessings and peace on Jean and your entire household.”
Former Fort Price Mayor Betsy Worth wrote,
“I’m deeply saddened to have misplaced a pricey good friend and very long time supporter of mine right now, John Roach. John was often known as Mr. Fort Price for his affect on enterprise and philanthropy all through North Texas. John labored tirelessly to make Fort Price a greater place for over 50 years. I supply my most honest condolences to John’s household and to all those that liked him.”
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