Kent State University at Tuscarawas recently honored the Roger Lile family as the Toast to Education Award recipient for their tireless dedication to and support of education and our community.
Lile, who sadly passed away last year, served 41 years on the Kent State University at Tuscarawas Branch District Board of Trustees. A retired Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Judge, Lile served on the Board of Trustees from 1979 to 2020 and held several offices, including fiscal officer, vice chairman and chairman. Also, he was a member of the campus’ Tuscarawas County University Foundation from 1998 to 2020, serving both as vice president and president.
Lile credited the leadership of other trustees and campus deans throughout the years for enabling him to remain on the board for such a long period of time. He acknowledged the current dean, Dr. Bradley Bielski, for doing a phenomenal job in guiding the campus.
“The other reason I remained on the board is my belief that education is the great equalizer in our republic,” he said after retiring from the board of trustees.
The Tuscarawas County University Branch District was formed by the Tuscarawas community as a governing body of the Tuscarawas Campus. The Branch District contracts with Kent State University to provide higher education services to Tuscarawas and surrounding counties. Throughout a 50-year history, the Branch District has grown to incorporate more than 180 acres, with four major buildings and focuses on sustaining educational opportunities for students and meeting the needs of the community.
“Through his years of service on the Board of Trustees, Judge Lile made a significant impact to Kent State Tuscarawas and to the entire community with his leadership and direction,” said Dean Bielski. “I am very thankful to Judge Lile for making vast and lasting positive changes throughout Tuscarawas and surrounding counties.”
During Lile’s time with Kent State Tuscarawas, the campus has grown from the original Founders Hall to include the Science and Advanced Technology Center, the Tolloty Technology Incubator, and the world-class Performing Arts Center.
“Kent State Tuscarawas began as a field of corn but has truly become a field of dreams, and I have been privileged to be a part of it all,” said Lile.
Lile served as judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Tuscarawas County from 1981-1998. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law with a juris doctorate in 1970, after obtaining his bachelor’s degree in history from Case Western Reserve University in 1966. He also served in the U.S. Army as a special agent in the 109th Army Intelligence Group.
“The Tuscarawas Campus is so grateful to the Roger Lile family,” Bielski said. “They are true believers in education and strive to make it even better. Roger’s legacy will be cherished for many years to come!”
The Toast to Education Gala, hosted at the Performing Arts Center, is a wine and culinary experience celebrating the passion for education. The elegant event supports scholarships, student opportunities and youth educational experiences enriching the vitality of our community. Next year’s gala is planned for March 28, 2026! For more information about the Toast to Education Gala or supporting Kent State Tuscarawas, contact Chad Conrad at cconra1@kent.edu or 330-308-7445.