Little People had a Pre-K opening and we enrolled him immediately. We were so happy to find such a gem of a preschool in our neighborhood! The academic program at Little People really prepared our son for Kindergarten. Within weeks he was writing his name, reading sight words and doing basic math.
Roloff in October 2014 | |
Born | October 7, 1961 (age 58) |
---|---|
Occupation | Actor, author, farmer, business entrepreneur, motivational speaker |
Spouse(s) | Amy Roloff [1](m. 1987; div. 2016) |
Children | Zachary Roloff (b. 1990) Jeremy Roloff (b. 1990) Molly Silvius (b. 1993) Jacob Roloff (b. 1997) |
Matthew James 'Matt' Roloff (born October 7, 1961)[2][3] is an American actor, author, farmer, business entrepreneur, and motivational speaker best known for participating with his family on the TLCreality television program, Little People, Big World.[4] The show featured the Roloffs' daily life. Roloff has dwarfism, as does his ex-wife Amy and one of their four children, Zachary.
- 4Early career
Early life[edit]
![Little People Program Pulpit Pages Little People Program Pulpit Pages](https://sunandshield.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/update-on-blake.png)
Roloff was born with diastrophic dysplasia, a degenerative dwarfism that caused him to have fifteen operations as a child.[2] He was born to Ron and Peggy Roloff, who are often featured on Little People, Big World. They are of average height as is his older sister, Ruth.[2] His younger brother Sam, an artist and founder of Back-Story Underpainting,[5] has diastrophic dysplasia and uses crutches to walk as well. His middle brother Joshua was born with a severe heart malformation; he died in 1999 at age 34.[6]
Family[edit]
The Roloff family includes Matt, Amy, also a little person with achondroplasia, and four children: fraternal twins Jeremy and Zachary (born 1990), Molly (born 1993), and Jacob (born 1997). Zach, like his mother, has achondroplasia, while the other three children are average height. Matt and Amy met at a Little People of America convention in 1987. The couple were engaged quickly and were married on September 12, 1987. In March 2014, the couple announced that they had separated.[7] On June 5, 2015 the couple announced they would be divorcing. Their divorce was finalized in May 2016.[1]
Farm[edit]
The Roloffs bought a fixer-upper farmhouse on 34-acres in Helvetia, Oregon, in 1990. Roloff worked to create Roloff Farm, which now features pumpkins, pirate ship on a lake, three-story treehouse, full-size Medieval castle, regulation soccer field, volleyball court, mine shaft, and tunnels. There are also outbuildings and restored barns.[8]
Roloff Farm is open to the public during certain seasons of the year, such as pumpkin season. It receives approximately 30,000 visitors annually.[2]
The Roloffs expanded with the purchase of the 80-acre property next to the farm in 2010.[9]
Early career[edit]
Roloff appeared as an extra in the movie, Under the Rainbow.[2] He also appeared as an Ewok in the Star Wars TV movie Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.[10] He is good friends with fellow little person and actor Martin Klebba, who appeared in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise and is also a member of a leading athletic club for little people, the LA Breakers.
Silicon Valley[edit]
Roloff worked as a computer programmer for Silicon Valley companies including Altos Computer Systems in the late 1980s. He sold systems software to Fortune 500 companies.[8] A friend encouraged him to take a job with Sequent Computer Systems, which was headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, in order to escape the long work hours and stress of Silicon Valley. Matt and his wife Amy relocated to the Portland area in 1990, while she was pregnant with twins Jeremy and Zachary.
Direct Access Solutions[edit]
![Little People Program Pulpit Pages Little People Program Pulpit Pages](https://image.isu.pub/190729145652-01fcf7d5c017d487601dd4089d609a06/jpg/page_1.jpg)
Roloff also has a number of other business ventures. On Little People, Big World, he is shown running the business he co-founded, Direct Access Solutions, a company that provides accessibility products for little people to the hospitality industry.
Little People, Big World[edit]
Little People, Big World premiered in August 2005.[11] It was filmed 320 days a year for six seasons.[12] Roloff is an executive producer of the show.[13]
The first season took seven months to film.[11] At the end of the first season of Little People, Big World, Roloff is shown again taking a job in computer sales for the software company Amdocs, for which he worked as a consultant.
In 2008, Roloff traveled to Iraq to assist an Iraqi family with three dwarf children who needed medical attention. His trip was the subject of the season-ending episodes of the fourth season of Little People, Big World, and it was covered by CNN and other national news outlets. The entire family appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2008.
In December 2010, Little People, Big World concluded its sixth full season. After taking a short break, TLC/Discovery once again reached out to the Roloff family to film 4 one-hour 'Little People, Big World' Specials.
In the summer of 2012, the Roloffs began filming another season, a spin-off called Little People Big World: Wedding Farm. Six episodes were filmed and the show was released in November 2012.[9][14]
Little People, Big World: Conquering Mt. St. Helens premiered in March 2013. In this episode, Amy and Zach train to climb Mt. St. Helens and Matt builds a one-room schoolhouse.[15] More specials like this aired.
Motivational speaking[edit]
Roloff is an avid motivational speaker and is listed with the American Program Bureau and is a member of the National Speakers Association. His speeches usually cover inclusion, overcoming odds, and sales leadership.[16]
Roloff has spoken at corporate events for companies like Tyson Foods, Walmart,[17] and United Healthcare.[18] Additionally, he has spoken for associations, such as the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) during their annual conference,[19] the Kansas State Council of SHRM,[20] the Manitoba Childcare Association,[21] and the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.[22] Roloff was the keynote speaker at the Kids Included Together (KIT) International Conference on Inclusion 2013.[23]
Roloff also speaks at universities, and has spoken at institutions such as New Mexico State,[24]Adelphi University in New York, Indiana University,[17] Minnesota St. Cloud State University,[25] and Penn State Worthington Scranton.[26] He gave a speech on diversity at the 8th annual diversity conference at Indian Hills Community College in 2011.[27]
In addition, Roloff has appeared as a celebrity guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Rachael Ray, The Bonnie Hunt Show, Chelsea Lately, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.[28][29]
Books[edit]
Roloff has authored three books.[30] In 1999, with the help of a ghostwriter, Roloff authored the book Against Tall Odds: Being a David in a Goliath World.
In April 2007, a second book, Little Family, Big Values: Lessons in Love, Respect and Understanding for Families of Any Size, was released. Amazon.com credits The Roloff Family and Tracy Summer, the same ghostwriter that helped with Roloff's first book. In May 2018, Roloff's third book was released. The book is a children's book titled titled 'Little Lucy, Big Race' and it's dedicated to his grandson, Jackson.
Activism[edit]
Roloff is the former President of Little People of America.[11] He also co-founded and serves as President of Coalition for Dwarf Advocacy, a non-profit for short-statured individuals.[31][32] Roloff established Direct Access Solutions, which sells a Short Stature Accessibility Kit to hotel chains with tools for little people and people of short stature to ensure a safe hotel stay.
Roloff has traveled to Iraq three times to visit U.S. troops and help an Iraqi family get medical attention for their three children with dwarfism.[30][33][34]
Lawsuit[edit]
In early 2013, the Roloffs sued Washington County, Oregon, when a county building inspector allegedly entered their property without permission or a warrant.[35]
Legal issues[edit]
In 2003, Roloff agreed to enter an alcohol diversion program after being charged with driving under the influence. The arrest stemmed from an incident in which Roloff swerved his vehicle off the road and into a ditch.[36] Upon his completion of the program, the charges were dropped.[36][37]
On June 19, 2007, Roloff was pulled over by Washington County Sheriff's Deputy and charged with DUI. The deputy claimed that Roloff was driving outside the travel lane after leaving a bar parking lot.[38][39] Roloff claimed that he had difficulty controlling the SUV because it was fitted with smaller pedal and brake extensions for his wife, and that he had dropped someone off in the bar parking lot.[39]
Roloff pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge.[39] A witness stated that the bar parking lot was used as a meeting spot and that he did not see Roloff drinking that night.[40][41] Judge Donald LeTourneau acquitted Roloff on the DUI charge and dismissed the case due to jury misconduct and inability to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.[39][42] Judge Le Tourneau also stated 'I have found Mr. Roloff credible in this case.'[41] The trial was the subject of the season opener of Little People, Big World on March 3, 2008, and its conclusion on March 10, 2008.
References[edit]
- Roloff, Matt & Tracy Summer (1999). Against Tall Odds: Being a David in a Goliath World. Multnomah Publishing. ISBN1-57673-583-4.
- Roloff, Matt & Tracy Summer (2007). Little Family, Big Values: Lessons in Love, Respect, and Understanding for Families of Any Size. Fireside. ISBN1-4165-4910-2
Notes[edit]
- ^ abGrinberg, Emanuella (June 5, 2015). ''Little People, Big World' stars Matt and Amy Roloff filing for divorce'. CNN. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
- ^ abcdeEmmerson, Kassidy. “Little Known Facts About Matt Roloff from ‘Little People, Big World.’”Archived December 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Yahoo! Voices July 21, 2007
- ^'Matt Roloff - About Facebook'.
- ^Stevens, Suzanne. “’Little People, Big World’: Yes, I’m a Roloff Fan.”Archived April 27, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Portland Business Journal. March 19, 2013
- ^'Recent Works by artist Sam Roloff oil paintings'. samroloff.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- ^'Matt Roloff (Little People, Big World)'. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^'Matt and Amy Roloff Divorcing: Little People, Big World Couple Split After 27 Years'. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ abTLC website. Meet Matt RoloffArchived June 16, 2013, at Archive.today Accessed May 17, 2013
- ^ abOwen, Rob. “Roloff family returns to TLC, “Little People, Big World: Wedding Farm.”Archived January 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine The Oregonian. November 11, 2012
- ^Tresniowski, Alex. Alexandra Hardy. Tall Order; His size once kept him off amusement park rides, so 4'2' Matt Roloff built a fantasy land for his kids People, April 3, 2000.
- ^ abcLee, Felicia R. 'Documenting a Family that Comes in Two Sizes.' The New York Times. March 2, 2006
- ^Little People, Big Comeback: Our Interview with Matt RoloffArchived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Culture Brats. September 8, 2011
- ^IMDb. “Filmography by TV Series for Matt Roloff.”Archived February 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^Little People, Big World: Wedding FarmArchived December 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine TVMuse
- ^Nededog, Jethro. “Watch: The Roloffs Vs. the Mountain.”Archived March 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Celebuzz. March 7, 2013
- ^American Program Bureau website. Matt RoloffArchived March 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Speaker Profile. Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^ abAdelphi University press release. Little People, Big World Star Matt Roloff at Adelphi University Performing Arts CenterArchived February 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine September 25, 2012. Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^United Healthcare event April 5, 2012
- ^Dvorak, Amy. 'Little Person, Big Message.'Archived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine ALA News. February/March 2010. Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^2011 SHRM Kansas State Conference. 'Keynote Speakers.'Archived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^Manitoba Childcare Association. Opening the Doors to Adventure in Early Childhood Education. Keynote Speakers.Archived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^Cantrell, Jody. Trib. Local. 'Overcoming Adversity: Surviving as a Little Person in a Big World.'Archived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine September 3, 2010. Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^KIT Conference on Inclusion website. Speaker Bios. Matt RoloffArchived September 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^Nava, Denise. New Mexico State College of Business website. 'Innovention competition: 'Little People, Big World' star makes an appearance at NMSU.'Archived December 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine February 23, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^St. Cloud State University website. 'Event Calendar.'Archived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine February 9, 2010. Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^Gruzesky, Amy. Penn State News. Worthington Scranton hosts Matt Roloff of Little People, Big WorldArchived May 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine October 7, 2011. Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^Allt, Kate. Heartland Connection. Matt Roloff talks diversity at Indian HillsArchived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine April 13, 2012. Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^IMDB. Matt Roloff: SelfArchived September 8, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^Wolfman Productions. Matt Roloff: Against Tall OddsArchived March 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Accessed April 4, 2013
- ^ abEstavillo, Sonyo. 'Matt Roloff — 'Little People, Big World' Visits Watertown, NY.' CW 14/22. October 25, 2012.
- ^“Matt Roloff, Star of ‘Little People, Big World,’ Television Series, to give Keynote at JCC Leadership Day.”Archived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Jefferson Community College website accessed May 17, 2013
- ^'Biography'Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Matt Roloff Speaking website accessed May 17, 2013
- ^“Matt and the Salman Family from Iraq.”Archived June 16, 2013, at Archive.today TLC website: 'Little People, Big World.'
- ^Huff, Richard. 'Little People, Big World has Big Impact.'Archived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine NY Daily News. October 10, 2008.
- ^Culverwell, Wendy. “The quotable Matt Roloff on celebrity and constitutional rights.”Archived April 27, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Portland Business Journal. March 21, 2013
- ^ abLittle People Big World. Season 3, Episode 2. Originally aired on March 3, 2008.
- ^'Oregon reality TV star arrested for DUI once before'. KGW. July 31, 2007. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
- ^Crombie, Noelle. 'Update: Reality star ways not guilty of alleged drunk driving in Washington County.'Archived March 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Oregon Live blog. July 31, 2007. Accessed February 28, 2013
- ^ abcdRocchio, Christopher. 'Little People, Big World' star Matt Roloff found not guilty of DUI.'Archived January 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Reality TV World. January 11, 2008. Accessed February 28, 2013
- ^Kearnes, Fara. 'Matt Roloff: Little People, Big Not Guilty Verdict.'Archived December 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Star Blogs.net. January 11, 2008. Accessed February 28, 2013
- ^ abCourt proceedings dated January 9, 2008
- ^Mitchell, Kay. 'Roloff acquitted by judge after jury misconduct discovered.'Archived January 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine The Oregonian. January 10, 2008. Accessed March 8, 2013
External links[edit]
- 'Little People, Big World: Exclusive With Matt Roloff', Orato, December 7, 2007
- Matthew Roloff on IMDb
- 'A Dream Lives in a Grand Design', The New York Times, September 30, 1999
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matthew_Roloff&oldid=922691083'
Preying from the Pulpit was a mini-news series produced in May 1993 by WJBK of Detroit, Michigan, for the 11:00 pm news.[1][2] The news report argued that sexual abuse in seven different churches around the United States were all connected to First Baptist Church of Hammond and its Pastor, Jack Hyles. Hyles called the program 'poor journalism' and organized a national campaign to respond.[3]
Description[edit]
The news report aired a six-part series stemming from child sexual abuse allegations against deacon Mark Foeller and associate pastor Timothy Leonard (a graduate of Hyles-Anderson College, an unaccredited institution), of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor.'[4] Leonard, 'North Sharon's associate pastor and a graduate of Hyles Anderson College of Schererville, was charged in Michigan with first- and second-degree sexual assault of children.'[5] The San Diego Union-Tribune noted 'the news report found seven U.S. churches - all with ties to Jack Hyles, it said - involved in sex scandals.'[1] Thus, the TV station noted alleged child molestations at a church 'appeared to be part of a pattern among 'churches that follow the teachings and philosophy' of Hyles, First Baptist and its related Hyles-Anderson College of Crown Point, Indiana'[6]
The mini-series 'showed footage during its report of [Hyles] brandishing a rifle from the pulpit', along with 'people with guns and walkie-talkies patrolling the outside of the church at times.' [7] Additionally 'the station also recapped a sermon in 1990 in which Hyles pretended to pour poison into a glass and asked an associate pastor, Johnny Colsten, to drink from it. Colsten said he would.'[8] Furthermore, 'The WJBK report said the sermon has the 'ring of Jonestown' to it—the mass suicide in Guyana in 1978 by followers of cult leader Jim Jones.'[8] In fact 'WJBK also reported that Hyles, though never claiming to be God, has convinced a lot of people he is the next best thing to Him.'[8]
The report also described the links of 'a deacon at First Baptist, A.V. Ballenger, [who] was found guilty of one count of child molestation dating from 1991.'[6] Also discussed in the news report was the comments Hyles made to the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger. The Chicago Tribune in a 1991 article reported that Hyles was sued for $1 million by the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger. The paper reported the 'lawsuit claims Hyles and the church had not fulfilled their obligation to ensure that children were protected from harm during Sunday school.' This stemmed from their mentioning the molestation to Hyles who then promised to 'investigate'. After two months of nothing being done, the parents went to the police.[9] Furthermore, 'the suit, filed last week, claims the minister told the child's parents that Ballenger 'just liked little girls,' and, 'You don't have a case.'[10] Hyles and the church settled out of court.[11] Ballenger was sentenced to five years in prison.[12]
Investigation[edit]
The Detroit news program was not the only one to study if there was a connection between deacon Ballenger at Hyles' church and the North Sharon associate pastor, who graduated from Hyles-Anderson College. The prosecuting attorney for Washtenaw County, Michigan went to the Ballenger trial 'to watch, listen to testimony and observe similarities between this case and other cases involving a rural church [in] Michigan.'[13]
On May 14, 1993 'the FBI was asked to look into allegations minors were taken from Michigan to Northwest Indiana by employees or officials of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor for events sponsored by Hammond First Baptist Church.'[5] The FBI concluded, 'there is insufficient evidence to probe allegations.'[5] On Friday, May 19, 1993 Sgt. Charles Hedinger, a Hammond police detective, described the Hyles investigation as 'open-ended.'[5]
Jack Hyles said that he welcomed an investigation by the police and he attended a meeting with city officials to discuss it. Hyles emerged from the meeting saying that there was no investigation. Confirmation of this came on Wednesday, May 24, 1993, the Chief of Police detectives, Capt. Bill Conner was quoted in the Tribune saying that, 'There is no investigation of the First Baptist Church of Hammond or Jack Hyles'.[14] On June 1, 1993 The Lake County, Indiana prosecutor's office stated that it did not have any cases involving Hyles or the First Baptist Church of Hammond.[6]On the same day, the Hammond Police Department reaffirmed the statement it made the previous month when it confirmed that there was no investigation of Hyles or the church.[6]
Criticism of WJBK[edit]
Hyles told his congregation that WJBK's news anchorman was fired and 12 sponsors had dropped the evening news, but Mort Meisner, news director for WJBK, said neither of those statements were true.[15]
On May 19, 1993, The Times of Northwest Indiana ran a story entitled Baptism by innuendo, which criticized WJBK-TV's reporting. The Times wrote, 'If one were to take the insinuations of Detroit television station WJBK-TV seriously, one could get the impression that the First Baptist Church of Hammond is a sex-crime factory and that its pastors school in Hammond and the affiliated Hyles Anderson College in Schererville are institutions where people minor in molestation.'[16] The Times also suggested that the May ratings period, which is traditionally known for such similar sensationalized stories, was not a good enough excuse to make up for the poor journalism the stories displayed, concluding that the stories were 'a monstrous overreach'. The Times went on to say: 'There is no large institution of any kind where some wrongdoers cannot be found. First Baptist and its affiliated institutions are no exception. To tar an entire congregation or student body and alumni with indiscriminate innuendo is highly irresponsible.'[16]
Soon afterwards, Hyles gave a speech in which he disputed the latest reports point by point.[6] During that speech, Hyles said that those that the report indicated had attended Hyles-Anderson College really had not even attended the school.[6] Several hundred people signed a statement supporting Hyles' in an advertisement placed in the Tuesday June 1, 1993 Chicago Sun-Times.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ ab'Preacher has links to molest suspects.' The San Diego Union San Diego, Calif.: May 17, 1993. p. A.7
- ^'Detroit station probes abuse, church link'. The Times of Northwest Indiana. May 17, 1993. Archived from the original on 2007-12-28. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
- ^'Hyles calls for national campaign to counter media'. The Times of Northwest Indiana. May 20, 1993. Archived from the original on 2007-12-28. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
- ^'7 accused of abuse linked to preacher'. The Grand Rapids Press. Grand Rapids, Mich. May 17, 1993. p. B2.
- ^ abcdDebra Gruszecki FBI won't continue with church sex abuse probe. Not enoughNorthwest Indiana Times. May 19, 1993
- ^ abcdefgLehmann, Daniel J. (June 2, 1993). 'Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out'. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 5.
- ^A conversation with the Rev Jack HylesNorthwest Indiana Times May 30, 1993
- ^ abcGruszecki, Debra (May 28, 1993). 'Hyles: I'm no dictator. First Baptist leader defends'. The Times of Northwest Indiana. Archived from the original on 2007-12-28. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
- ^Amanda Beeler. One step closer to the endNorthwest Indiana Times March 31, 1996
- ^'Church leaders sued in sex-abuse case'. Chicago Tribune. October 16, 1991. p. 3.
- ^'A civil suit filed against Ballenger and the church by the girl's family was settled almost two years ago.' fromBeeler, Amanda (March 31, 1996). 'One step closer to the end'. The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ^Mark Kiesling. Convicted of molestation, ex-deacon to go to prison. Northwest Indiana Times August 28, 1996
- ^Gruszecki, Debra Gruszecki (March 24, 1993). 'Deacon's trial draws interest of Michigan prosecutors'. Northwest Indiana Times.
- ^'No Investigation of Church in Abuse Cases, Police Say'. Chicago Tribune. May 24, 1993.
- ^'Minister discusses abuse allegations'. The Times of Northwest Indiana. May 17, 1993. Archived from the original on 2007-12-28. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
- ^ abBaptism by innuendoNorthwest Indiana Times May 19, 1993
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Preying_from_the_Pulpit&oldid=889829959'