Rocheforte Lafayette Weeks

Rocheforte Lafayette Weeks (15 August 1923 – 1986) was a Liberian academic, lawyer, and diplomat who served as president of the University of Liberia from 1959 to 1972 and as Secretary of State under President William R. Tolbert Jr. from 1972 to 1973. Earlier in his career he participated in the Liberian Codification Commission that worked with legal scholars at Cornell University to revise Liberia's national legal code.^[1][2] He was the first Liberian to serve as president of the University of Liberia.

Weeks was born on 15 August 1923 in Crozierville, Liberia, the son of a Methodist minister. He received his early education in Crozierville and at White Plains before entering the preparatory department of Liberia College. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Liberia College in 1944.^[1]

From 1944 to 1949, Weeks served as secretary to the Vice President of Liberia. He subsequently studied law in the United States, obtaining a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1952. He later pursued additional studies at Cornell University in 1954.^[1]

Weeks was admitted to the bar in Montserrado County in 1955 and began lecturing that same year at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia. In January 1956 he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Liberia.^[1]

On 6 April 1959, Weeks was appointed president of the University of Liberia. He was the first Liberian to hold the position following a series of American university presidents who had led the institution after its reorganization in 1951.^[3]

During his tenure he participated in several international academic organizations and conferences. He served as a special consultant to the UNESCO Conference of Higher Education in 1961–1962, was a deputy member of the administrative board of the International Association of Universities from 1965 to 1970, and served as president of the International Association of University Presidents from 1971 to 1972.^[1]

Weeks was also a member of the Liberian Codification Commission in New York City in 1955, which worked with legal scholars at Cornell University on the preparation of a revised national legal code for Liberia. The project resulted in the adoption of a modernized statutory code for Liberia, replacing earlier legislation and reorganizing the country's laws^[4]

In 1972 he resigned as president of the University of Liberia to join the cabinet of President William R. Tolbert Jr., replacing Joseph Rudolph Grimes as Secretary of State. During his tenure as Secretary of State, Weeks represented Liberia at the United Nations, including addressing the United Nations Security Council on 15 November 1972 during discussions on Portuguese colonial rule in Africa.^[5] He served in that role until July 1973, when he was succeeded by Cecil Dennis.^[1][6]

After leaving government, Weeks served as managing director of the Technico-Auriole Engineering Company from 1973 to 1976. From 1976 to 1982 he served as Liberia’s special maritime representative to the United States.^[1]

Weeks later retired to Liberia, where he died in 1986.

Weeks was married to Euphemia Weeks. They had eight children, including Dr. Ophelia Inez Weeks, a physician and later vice president of the University of Liberia, and Milton Alvin Weeks, who served as Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia.^[7]