[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5779]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING SAM E. ROACH FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO COLLIN COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 2013

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my 
personal friend and esteemed community leader, Mr. Sam E. Roach on his 
lasting impact on the educational community in Collin County. For the 
past 21 years, Sam Roach has faithfully served on the Collin College 
Board of Trustees where he acted as chairman for three terms. Under his 
leadership, Collin College has experienced historic expansion with an 
increase in enrollment of nearly 32,000 students each year. He was 
instrumental in developing the core values and mission statement for 
the college while simultaneously creating a new master plan for 
expansion. During his service, he also helped to launch the university 
pre-admission program as well as work to secure the largest gift from 
an individual donor in Collin College history. Needless to say, Sam 
Roach has been a powerful force and an influential leader in education 
and our community as a whole.
   In addition to his incredible accomplishments as chairman of the 
Board of Trustees, Mr. Roach chaired Board committees for Budget & 
Finance, Campus Facilities & Construction, and served as the Board's 
representative for Frisco TIF #2. Not only has he tirelessly committed 
his hard work and time to the college, he also has consistently and 
generously donated his finances to endowed scholarships for students, 
giving more students an opportunity of a bright future.
   Mr. Roach's commitment to education has not just been for the past 
21 years, but has been a lifetime of dedication. As a Frisco native, he 
graduated valedictorian of Frisco High School and continued on to 
receive an engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin. 
Later, he became president of the Frisco Independent School District 
Board, chair of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation, and a 
member of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. Words simply cannot express 
Mr. Roach's incredible impact and influence. Not only does he posses 
great vision, but he posses great commitment. He sees the potential in 
America's youth today and actively empowers them. He encourages the 
growth of young minds, the exploration of new ideas by providing the 
resources for students to accomplish their goals. More than just a 
dedicated board member, he is an advocate for students to become the 
people they aspire to be.
   Thank you, Mr. Sam E. Roach, for your tireless efforts on behalf of 
the students of Collin County. Although your presence on the Board of 
Collin College will be dearly missed, your legacy lives on. It is a 
pleasure to know you and call you my friend. I wish you the very best 
in the years to come. God bless you.

                          ____________________