Judge Ronald Hachey played an instrumental role in moving the college to its current location at 875 Summit Avenue, St. Paul. As a state judge for Ramsey County for 34 years, Judge Hachey was well known and respected by attorneys and defendants a like.

The Life of Judge Ronald Hachey

1909 Ronald Edward Hachey is born in Grand Rapids, Minn. to Canadian immigrants of French/Irish descent; grows up in Marble, Minn., on the Iron Range

1918 Survives bout with flu during the flu epidemic

1926 Graduates from Greenway-Coleraine High School at age 16

1926–32 Works in the iron ore mines, rising from the track gang to the engineering dept.

1929–34 Co-founds and plays tenor sax for the Rangers, 6-7 piece swing band

1932–34 Quits his job in the mines to study pre-law at Itasca Junior College

1934 Goes to University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for additional year of study

1935 Marries Alverna Hazen

1935–39 Works in sales for Pearson candy company, then joins Goodyear Tire as sales person. Transferred by the company to Akron, Dayton, Memphis, and Milwaukee

1939–40 Studies law at William Mitchell while working at a Goodyear station downtown;

1942 Alverna sells cosmetics at Snyders downtown

1942 Daughter Judy is born

1943 Graduates from law school in January; in June, leaves for Fort Benning, Georgia to join the Army

1945–55 Finishes tour of duty, returns to St. Paul and opens law practice with Archie Gingold; serves as Assistant US Attorney (1951-1953); co-founds the firm Neville, Hachey & Johnson

1949 Daughter Debbie is born

1955 Appointed by Governor Orville Freeman to the 2nd Judicial District Bench of Ramsey County; stays on the bench until retiring in 1979

1956 Begins teaching Trial Advocacy at William Mitchell; continues until 1980

1970–80 Joins the William Mitchell Board of Trustees; serves as president from 1973–80

1976 He plays a major role in William Mitchell’s relocation to current site at 875 Summit Avenue

1980 Upon resignation from the board, is named president emeritus and honorary chairman; is named first William Mitchell Alumni Director; as director he initiates the Annual Fund drive

1987 The student commons at William Mitchell is renamed the Hachey Commons

2005 Judge Hachey dies on November 4 at age 95