Richard F. LaRoche (Independent Director) served NHC for 27 years as Secretary and General Counsel and 14 years as Senior Vice President, retiring from these positions in May 2002. He has served as an NHC Board member since 2002. He has a law degree from Vanderbilt University and an A.B. degree from Dartmouth College. He has previously served on the publicly held boards of National Health Investors, Inc. (1991 through 2008), and National Health Realty, Inc. (1997 through 2007). Mr. LaRoche also served as a director of privately held Lodge Manufacturing Company, was a member of its Compensation and Audit Committees, and was Chair of its Audit Committee (2001-2021). Mr. LaRoche s long career as former Secretary and General Counsel of the Company, during which time he was responsible for the Company s finance and development initiatives, provides the Board with invaluable experience in addressing the issues and challenges facing the Company. He serves as the Chairman of NHC s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and as a member of the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee.