NFF Gold Medal Recipients
Biography
Chester James LaRoche’s long and distinguished career in advertising is headlined as being one of the founders and the first chairman of The Advertising Council. LaRoche graduated from Yale University in 1921, where he was an outstanding football, baseball and basketball player. He quarterbacked Yale during its first Big Three championship in the Yale Bowl.
During World War II, LaRoche enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served as a Senior Lieutenant on the USS Arkansas. Following the war, he became president and chairman of Young and Rubicam, Inc., where he helped build the ad agency. LaRoche then became vice chairman of the board at ABC, and afterwards took on the role of chairman of C.J. LaRoche and Co. in 1950.
LaRoche served as chairman of the National Football Foundation from 1956-1971. He oversaw the creation of the first NFF Annual Awards Dinner and the establishment of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete program. He retired from his career in advertising, and made his home in Palm Beach, Fla. LaRoche passed away in 1977 at the age of 84.
