Nathaniel Sims Rogers

Nathaniel (Nat) S. Rogers, age 96, of Madison, Ms. died on February 22, 2016. Born in New Albany, Ms., he graduated from Millsaps College in 1941 where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and Omicron Delta Kappa.

During World War II he served as a U.S. Navy Lieutenant and was stationed in the Pacific and Asiatic theaters. His ship participated in and came under fire at the Battle for Okinawa.

Following the war he attended Harvard Business School, earning his MBA while becoming a George Baker Scholar.

He joined Deposit Guaranty Bank in Jackson, Ms. in 1947 and served as its President from 1959 until 1969. He resigned to become President of First City National Bank of Houston, Texas where he served as President or Chairman of the Board until his retirement in 1985. He also served as Chairman of the Board of First City Bancorporation of Texas.

Active for many years in banking industry affairs, he served as President of the Mississippi Bankers Association, Director of Reserve City Bankers, member of the Bankers Advisory Committee to the U.S. Treasury, Advisory Council to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Director, Houston Branch, of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. In 1969-1970 he served as the President of the American Bankers Association.

In civic and community affairs, he served as President of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Campaign Chairman of the United Way of Jackson, Ms., President of the Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America, where he received the Silver Beaver Award. In 1955 he was named the outstanding Young Man of the Year in Jackson. Long a Trustee of Millsaps College, he served as Chairman of the Board in the mid 1960’s and helped guide and support the college in its efforts to racially integrate. He also served as Chairman of the Administrative committee of Galloway Memorial Methodist Church.

During his years in Houston, he served as Chairman of the United Way Campaign of Harris County and Chairman of the Houston Chamber of Commerce. He served as a director of the United Way of America and served a term as Chairman of the Administrative Board of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. He was a Life Trustee of Methodist Hospital, Houston and a former Chairman of the Board of M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute.

In Mississippi he served as a Director of Deposit Guaranty Corporation, Mississippi Power and Light Company, Mississippi Chemical Corp., First Mississippi Corporation, Mississippi Title Insurance Company, Standard Life Insurance Company, East Group Properties, and Parkway Corporation.

In Texas his directorships included First City, Gulf States Utilities, Lomas and Nettleton Company, and Sonat Inc.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Helen Ricks Rogers, Madison, daughter Alice Fitzgibbon, Nashville, Tn., Dr. John S. Rogers (Nadine) Knoxville, Tn., and Lewis P. Rogers (Grace) Metairie, La.; eight grandchildren William E Fitzgibbon IV (Victoria), Rebecca Bravender (Christopher), Nathaniel S. Rogers II (Kyla), Alex Rogers, Michael Rogers, Katherine Rogers, Charlotte Rogers and Claire Rogers, and five great grandsons William Fitzgibbon V, Henry Fitzgibbon, Harrison Fitzgibbon, William Bravender, and Mitchell Rogers..

The family would like to thank all of the staff at St. Catherine’s for their dedication to Mr. Rogers’ comfort and care over the years.

A memorial service will be held at Galloway Methodist Church in Jackson at 11:00AM on Friday, March 4th.

Visitation at the church will precede the service beginning at 9:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Nat and Helen Rogers Endowed Scholarship Fund at Millsaps College, P.O. Box 151191, Jackson, Ms. 39210.