E. "Buck" Wayne Rogers

June 23,1930 –April 3, 2012

The family of Buck Rogers is saddened at the loss of this amazing man. If you know Buck, you know how he loved his family, his God, his friends, and his community.

He married the love of his life, Beverly Nesbitt, a year after placing a bet with a fellow football player on the ’49 COS team which was that he could get her away from Bob Matthias, whom she was seeing at the time. “Hey baby, you really got class…” That was his line on the phone to our mom. Yes. It worked. For 58 years they had a partnership of love, laughter, and friendship. She is and always will be his beloved ‘Sapphire’.

Daughter, Debbie, was their firstborn, and the new parents were immediately thrust into a world of caring for a baby with heart problems. She was not expected to live. Debbie just turned 60 this year. They witnessed a miracle in the healing of a child’s heart.

Son, Mark, was the baby of the family. Dad and Mark’s love for Mineral King and the hiking trips, especially the one to Sawtooth, was a connection of spirit and nature that fed their souls.

Buck became a teacher at the advice of Ivan Crookshanks, the President of COS in ’49-50. He asked dad, “Buck, you ever thought of getting a teacher certificate? You could be a coach, too.”

Very soon he was teaching school in Delano and then made the switch to Visalia City Schools, where he taught and coached.

As a role model to his athletes, Buck and Bev would regularly host the team for meals, sodas, and built them up to believe they could do anything. He actually convinced them into thinking that a sugar cube, or a bit of chocolate during a game would make them superhuman. That was Buck.

He commuted to Fresno State in the early 60’s to enroll in a brand new program in Educational Administration. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa as the first graduate of the new program. He even got lost in the mountains for 2 days in a snow storm in between. He made it home in time to vote for Kennedy. Fairview School and Sierra Vista were his first administrative assignments. Then the door opened at Divisadero Junior High, and he remained there until he retired in 1987.

Buck supported anything that would help kids. He was a huge supporter of the music and athletic departments in Visalia Unified. He was one of the most recognized faces in town and never got a speeding ticket! Mr. Rogers was the man on campus. He was always in the mix with the kids.

Dad’s influence in the community was heartfelt. Buck and Bev experienced a life changing reality of God in both their lives in the mid 60’s. He was even more committed to doing whatever he could to help families. After the son of a family in our church died of an overdose, Buck and a couple other people launched the idea of a Christ-centered rehab for addicts. That idea became Turning Point. He was always teaching and a born leader. “Love is not something you only say, it has shoe leather. That’s what ‘the Boss’ said.” he would say. He and his beloved Bev both lived that way.

Grand-parenting was a specialty. They went to track meets, played dress up, attended choir, theater and ballet recitals, and on and on. The loves of their lives were Nicholas Williams and Amber Williams, children of daughter, Debbie, and Megan Rogers and Brooke Rogers, children of their son, Mark. Granddaughter, Amber, was also a very sick little girl, and Buck and Bev invested every moment they could to help take of her while she battled leukemia. Amber died in 1989 at the age of 6. In her honor, they created a non-profit called “Amber Shoes”.

Grandson, Nick, was first, and the motto of “If mom and dad say ‘no’, ask Mimi or Boppa” was born. Buck and Nick were often found doing ‘workers’ outside in the yard or the shop. Nick believed that Boppa could fix anything.

Megan and Brooke sang and danced command performances in Buck and Bev’s den after school, and once in a while, they would just go get them early from school and take them to their home!

Buck and Bev welcomed Tim and Sally with hugs and open arms as members of the family, and the Rogers clan continued to tell “mountain stories” and laugh to the accompaniment of favorite family songs. “I Love My Rooster”, “Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy”, and The New Christie Minstrels Christmas album were on the playlist at every family gathering.

Buck loved the out of doors and looked forward to his frequent trips to Bell Cattle Company, where he and his good friend, Cal Bell, got to live out their 19th century dreams working the herds. He looked forward every Wednesday to meeting with ‘the guys’ at Carrow’s for breakfast. We are sure the stories and lies that they told each other were filled with laughter and, of course, big tips were left behind.

Buck was all about family. He loved every one of us with unconditional love and was our hero. A graveside service for family and friends will be Monday April, 9th at 10:30 at Visalia Cemetary.

Buck requested that in lieu of flowers, PLEASE consider making donations in his honor to the non-profit he started, which will continue:

Visalia Education Foundation: Amber Shoes

2316 West Whitendale, suite B

Visalia, CA 93277