A lifelong Madison love affair

Guest Editor's Note

As Madison was ready to go to press, JMU learned of the death of an exceptional alumna, Inez Graybeal Roop ('35). This former English and history major died peacefully last month at age 97. It is as though an era has passed at Madison, as Inez's life has been so inextricably interwoven with that of JMU's.

"During a long life spanning most of the 20th century, Inez Roop lived through enormous changes," said her Richmond Times-Dispatch obituary. "Most important to her personally was the expansion of tiny Harrisonburg State Teachers College into the not-so-tiny James Madison University."

She was the JMU Board of Visitors member who made the motion to change the name of Madison College to James Madison University in 1977. She stood beside Gov. Mills Godwin and JMU President Ronald E. Carrier in Richmond when the governor signed the declaration changing the name.

All five JMU presidents have counted Inez among their friends. She served on the JMU Alumni Association Board of Directors, as Alumni Fund Drive chair, Richmond Alumni Chapter creator and president, and as a Bluestone Society officer. She, and her husband, Ralph ('05H), who died in 2006, gave numerous gifts and scholarships to JMU. She was a charter member of (and suggested) the Madison Founders Society — the group of individuals who have included JMU in their estate plans. In 1994, Roop Hall was named in her honor. In 1977, Inez received JMU's Distinguished Alumni Service Award, which was renamed in her honor in 2003.

I first met Inez as a high-school senior, when she and Ralph hosted a "Meet the Prospective Student" reception in their Richmond home. Inez loved and believed in JMU. She enjoyed JMU basketball and celebrated our 2004 football national championship and the recent victory over Virginia Tech (Ralph's alma mater). I remember how proudly she represented her class in JMU's 2008 Centennial Celebration processional. I last saw Inez in April, when she was at JMU celebrating her 75th class reunion with style.

We all will miss her Be the Change spirit. She made JMU part of her entire life. Who will take up the torch?

—Steve Smith ('71, '75M), associate vice president, JMU Constituent Relations

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