James Roche (General Motors)
James M. Roche | |
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General Motors |
James Michael Roche (December 16, 1906 – June 6, 2004) was an
Early life and background
Roche was born in Elgin, Illinois. He married Louise McMillan in 1929[1] and eventually had a daughter and two sons, James Roche, Doug Roche and Joan Roche. [2] Roche never went to college [3] because of his father's early death.[4] He was one of the few American industrialists lacking a college education.[3]
General Motors career
He joined GM as a statistician in 1927 in the Chicago sales and service branch[2] and slowly worked his way up through the ranks, becoming president of the corporation in 1965.[5] Most of his career was spent at the Cadillac Division, becoming head of the division in 1957.[2] Roche became vice-president of General Motors in 1957, and executive vice-president and board member in 1962.[1]
Involvement in equal opportunity and other controversies at GM
Roche is cited as dedicating General Motors and himself personally to ensuring equal employment opportunities.[4] In 1971, he offered Rev. Leon Sullivan, a Philadelphia minister active in the civil rights movement, a seat on the GM board - GM's first black board member. Sullivan later sought to have GM and other corporations leave South Africa in protest of the country's apartheid policies.[2]
In 1966, Roche issued an apology for the company's efforts to discredit consumer activist
During Roche's tenure, public opinion about automobile companies was changing from praise for producing cars which allowed freedom and mobility to dissatisfaction.[6]
Chairman and Chairman of the Board
Roche served as Chairman of GM from June 1, 1965, to October 31, 1967, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors from November 1, 1967, to December 31, 1971.[7] He retired in 1971 because of a mandatory retirement age.[2]
Other career achievements
Roche served on the board of directors of
Roche is an inductee to the Automotive Hall of Fame. Ten colleges and universities awarded him honorary degrees.[4]
Time magazine called Roche "a folksy sort who never shows his temper and whose greatest failing, according to companions and competitors alike, is that 'he may be too much of a gentleman.' "[3]
Death
Roche died on June 6, 2004 in his home in Belleair, Florida at the age of 97.[8]
References
- ^ a b Flint Timeline Project-George H.Durand Archived 2007-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g h USATODAY.com - Former General Motors chairman James Roche dies
- ^ a b c The Rattles in the Engine - TIME
- ^ a b c "Inductees". Archived from the original on 2004-09-02. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
- ^ Roche, James Michael - Britannica Online Encyclopedia
- ^ James Roche, who led GM in 1960s, dies at 97 | Automotive News | Find Articles at BNET.com
- ^ Chairmen and Presidents of GM Archived 2000-12-11 at archive.today
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-15.