PEOPLE SamRoach ‘Such a big part of Frisco’: Community re ects on Sam Roach’s in uence S am Roach recently took in the view from the top oor of Frisco’s tallest building,
BY MATT PAYNE
“NUMEROUS PEOPLE IMPROVED THEIR LIVES BY CREATINGNEW CAREERS BECAUSE OF HIS GENEROSITYANDVISION.” JASON FORD, FRISCO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. PRESIDENT
Collin County Community College Dis- trict board, according to a tribute from the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. When asked about her husband’s proudest accomplishments for the city, Judy said Sampointed to helping recruit longtime City Manager George Purefoy to Frisco. In addition, Judy said Samhelped establish FISD’s small- school model. “He loved Frisco, and this was home,” Judy said. “We’re still on this part of the land that they’ve had for three generations. …He was such a big part of Frisco. He was a big part of making it what it is.” Samwas also the Frisco Economic Development Corp.’s founding board president when the group was created in 1991. Current FEDC President Jason Ford said Sammade it a priority to help Frisco achieve its highest potential. “Frommarketing Frisco in the
SkyHouse Frisco Station, overlooking several cranes and fellow skyscraping buildings across a city that was once a town of just 600 people. “He said never, ever in his lifetime did he think he would ever be stand- ing on the 25th oor of a building in Frisco,” said Judy Roach of her husband. Community members in Frisco described his leadership as a foun- dation for the city’s rapid growth. Samdied on Dec. 30 at the age of 86 with his wife and children by his side, according to Turrentine-Jackson-Mor- row Funeral Home. Sam graduated fromFrisco High School in 1953 as valedictorian. He served four terms on the Frisco ISD board of trustees and 13 years on the
Sam Roach was born in 1935 and was raised on the Roach family farm and ranch on Preston Road. (Courtesy Frisco Chamber of Commerce)
early days to negotiating projects with employers and developers, he always wanted tomake sure it was nancially sustainable and a good t for Frisco— today and tomorrow,” Ford said. Ford said Samhelped provide opportunities for a ordable o ce and warehouse space to low- andmoder- ate-income entrepreneurs to start and grow their business at the SamRoach Business Center. “Numerous people improved their lives by creating new careers because of his generosity and vision,” Ford said. Mayor Je Cheney said Sam’s
ngerprints are all over the city. “There’s no question inmy mind that people like SamRoach ... is why the community moved in the direction that it did,” Cheney said. The mayor praised Sam for his years of dedication to education and devel- opment. Cheney said he recalls several stories between Sam and former Mayor BobWarren as they reminisced over a once-quaint town. “He prided himself on being a man of his word—a handshake, humble kind of guy,” Cheney said. “I think those quali- ties really are what Frisco’s all about.”
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FRISCO EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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