R. L. Ropp
| Ralph L. Ropp | |
 | |
President of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston
| |
| In office 1949–1962 | |
| Preceded by | Claybrook Cottingham |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | F. Jay Taylor |
| Born | March 1987 Latty, Paulding County, Ohio |
| Died | 1982 Pineville, Louisiana |
| Spouse(s) | Effie Lee Jones Ropp (married 1926-1982, his death) |
| Children | Linda Lou Ropp May Ralph E. Ropp |
| Religion | United Methodist |
Ralph L. Ropp (March 1897 – 1982) was from 1949 to 1962 the president of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston in Lincoln Parish in north Louisiana. During his administration, sixteen major buildings on the campus were constructed and equipped, seven academic departments were created, and a master's degree was first offered.[1] Ropp was succeeded by F. Jay Taylor, an historian and a native of Bienville Parish, who served as president until his own retirement, effective June 30, 1987.
A native of Latty in Paulding County in northwestern Ohio, Ropp attended a one-room school until he was twelve years of age. In 1913, he graduated from Latty High School. In 1923, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. In 1925, he procured a Master of Arts in English from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He was professor of speech and head of the department of forensics at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, when he was invited to become the president of Louisiana Tech. He was active in the United Methodist Church.[2] On April 1, 1926, Ropp married the former Effie Lee Jones (died 2000), a native of Dubach in Lincoln Parish and herself an educator. The couple had three children, Linda Lou Ropp May, Ralph E. Ropp, and John Ropp.[1]
The Ropp Center, originally constructed on the Louisiana Tech campus in 1911, is named in his honor. It was formerly the President's Home and was used for several years by Taylor, his first wife, Evelyn Bast Taylor, and son, Terry Taylor.
Documents relating to Ropp's presidency have been deposited in the Louisiana Tech Prescott Memorial Library.
