His brother, John Couch was also a member of the University of North Carolina Biology Department faculty.
[5][6] As Editor-in-Chief, Couch sought to present multiple and varying perspectives on controversial issues addressed in the encyclopedia and in the annual Year Book.
He quickly came under criticism from left-wing academics and librarians for soliciting article contributions from conservative and anti-communist writers.
[7] In Collier’s widely acclaimed Year Book for 1957, covering the dramatic events of 1956, Couch edited articles from three hundred contributors, while addressing explosive topics, such as the Suez Crisis, and the anti-Communist Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
[8] Ryan generally supported Couch’s editorial policies and directed him to compile an expanded revision of Collier’s Encyclopedia by 1962.
[10] Crowell Collier’s new directors, paper bag company executives with no publishing experience, pressured Ryan to loosen encyclopedia sales practices, lower customer credit standards, and cut Couch’s editorial budget.