Bradford Dean Rogers

Born in Des Moines, Iowa to Ron and Janet Rogers, the oldest of three children. After many moves during his formative years, the family settled in Columbia, TN where he graduated from Columbia High school. He then attended Middle Tennessee State University where he earned a Bachelor’s in Music Education. While at MTSU, he met and fell in love with Patricia Anne Bagsby, and they married in August of 1980.

In 1981 while teaching at Hopkinsville High School, Hopkinsville, KY, he welcomed his first daughter, Brianna. Four years later while at Oakland High School, Murfreesboro TN, he welcomed his second daughter, Lauren.

In 1987, Brad and his family relocated to Oldham County Kentucky after he accepted the Assistant Band Director position at Oldham County High School. In 1989 he transitioned to the Band Director role and also received a Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Louisville. He remained at OCHS until his retirement in 2021. Not one to sit for long, he accepted the position of Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Louisville in the summer of 2021 where he remained until his passing.

Brad received numerous individual recognitions, notably the MTSU Band of Blue Hall of Fame (inducted 1999), OCHS Teacher of the Year (1991), the National Band Association Citation for Musical Excellence (three times), and the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster in Kentucky (2012). He was honored as one of 50 Directors Who Make A Difference by SBO Magazine (2015), is a John Philip Sousa Society Legion Laureate, and a Rotary Club International Paul Harris Fellow. He served many roles within KMEA through out his career, serving as President from 2015-2017. In 2017 he was honored as KMEA’s High School Teacher of the Year.

Professional affiliations include KMEA/NAfME, National Band Association, American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Delta Kappa, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

While most outside his family will remember Brad for his soft spoken command of a marching or concert band or his sometimes inspirational oft head scratching one-liners, his wife and kids will remember him for the endless Louisville Redbirds games (and souvenir bats), willingness to put to fruition any project or task his kids needed (while sometimes ignoring his own projects at home), tight hugs sealed with a “love you,” and the silent crinkle of his eyes when his granddaughter spoke her mind.

Brad is preceded in death by his father Ron Rogers. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 45 years, Patricia; his daughters, Brianna (Chase Rumble) and Lauren (Blair Miller); granddaughter, Adelyn Anne Miller; mother, Janet Rogers; brother, Marc Rogers (Amanda); sister, Linda Hawkins (Jim); and his nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Brad will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 3pm at Southeast Christian Church Crestwood Campus with visitation from 11am until the start of the service. A private burial will take place in Williamson Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Franklin, Tennessee.

Memorial donations can be made to the scholarship fund set up in Mr. Rogers’ Memory at https://gofund.me/9569aacb

Brad shared his life and love with the thousands of students who passed through his band rooms for four decades. His insistence that everyone see their value is something he would be proud to have as his legacy.