January 2012
A King-Size View
Page 23
ROLAND ROGERS A GENTLE GIANT LAID TO REST
By King Arthur Prayther A King-Size View Longtime Houston Independent School District teacher and coach Roland Rogers passed away on December 28, 2011 after a brief illness. Rogers, a Houston native, was born on November 17, 1942 and attended Douglas Elementary, Miller Junior and Worthing Senior High School. He went to receive his graduate degree from Texas Southern University. While in high school Rogers lettered in six sports and played both football and basketball at TSU and was quickly recognized as Most Outstanding Freshman and was name All-Southwestern Athletic Conference for two years. He was signed by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. A knee injury ended his career earlier on and Rogers did however play several years in semi-pro leagues. His teaching career begun at Central High School in Newark, New Jersey, where he coached track and was defensive co-0rdinator for their football program
as well. In 1974 Rogers came home and took over the girls head coaching position at Jones High School. He also coached football moving on to become the defensive coordinator on Jones great 1985 team under the leadership of the legendary James ‘Bo’ Humphery. After Humphery retired ‘Bear’ Rogers became Jones head coach and led them to several more district titles before retiring.
Known for his great defensive skills as a player and as a coach Rogers or ‘Popeye’ as his friends called him sent several of his players to their highest levels. Those include Alfred Williams who left Jones and went Colorado and made AllAmerican before being taken by the Bengals in the NFL and later traded to Denver where he was a member of their Super Bowl teams. During his track coaching career Jones also worked with Darrell Green of the Washington Redskins who was later inducted into Pro football Hall of Fame. My mind reflects back to 1983 when we started covering girls’ basketball in Metro-Houston. At the time ‘Bear’ Rogers was the head girls coach at Jones and had some good talent but his daughter Rhonda Rogers-Hunt played at Madison. So Coach Maurice Davis of Madison turned Rhonda loose on the Lady Falcons. After the game coach Rogers went over to Coach Davis and whispered “Man I didn’t know Rhonda could play that well”. Coach Davis replied “Well man she’s your daughter and I’m glad to have her on my team”. Rhonda
Rogers went on to lead the Lady Marlins to the Region III tournament and later that year she finished second in the shot put at the state track meet in Austin. Rogers went on to have a great career at Prairie View. making Roland and Pauline very proud.
After one of Jones wins in 1985 we asked Coach Humphery about his defense and he deferred the question to Coach Rogers. So I went over to shake hands with ‘Bear’ and his massive hands nearly came halfway up my skinny little arm. I was almost afraid to ask him questions about the Falcons defense. But he was just as nervous as I was because he really didn’t like meeting the press for fear he would say what was on his mind. The gentle giant chose his words very carefully but he answered all my question straight forward. Over the years he never really liked meeting the media but we worked well together. He would always ask me when I turned the tape off and how did he do. With so many fun memories of covering Coach Rogers’ teams we recall the first time we had him on the radio at KYOK on Prep Talk. He was so shy and kept rattling his keys on the table and the mike was picking it up. So by the time we were deep in the hour long show, Darrell Ardison and I were holding his hand still and he gave us a great interview. The giant of a man had such a kind heart and was loved by all who came in contact with him over the years. His players respected him very much and followed his instructions and they moved on to the next level
with pride.
Rogers found Christ at an early age at Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church and reunited with his church in 2010 Rogers leaves to mourn a loving and faithful wife Pauline, their devoted children Rodney, Asia of Gran Prairie, Texas, Rhonda (Purvis Hunt) of Houston, Texas and Regina of Houston, Texas. Three grandchildren Raevyn, Richon, Ryan and Regham, One aunt Nora Williams, special cousins Emily Rufus Hill, lifelong friends Floyd Miller and Jessie Hurst and many coaches, former teammates and friends as well as media admirers. Due to his enormous work ethic, Rogers won a few awards in his days starting out with our Forward Times “Coach of the Week” along with his 2006 induction into the Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The 2006-07 Houston Independent
School District Coaches Association Hall of Honor, USA Track and Field Gulf Association “John Phillips” Award, Houston Texans “Coach of the Week”, TSU Track and Field recognition award for over 40 years of service are some his other awards. In his spare time Rogers was very fond of fishing and spent most of his retirement days on the bays of water off the Gulf of Mexico. The ‘Bear’ is hibernating in Heaven these days so I must say sleep well ‘Bear’ because you did a fine job during your stay on earth. It warmed my heart two years ago when Rhonda Rogers-Hunt and Mary Miller-Young teamed with Bea Washington-Phillips to put together a dinner to honor retiring Coach Barbara Jacket at P.V. It’s things like that that goes to show what positive influence Rogers had on his family and may God bless them all!
A look at Roland “Bear” Rogers; May the gentle Giant rest in peace