Roger Thomas Gage Sr.

He attended Thorndale High School where he played sports. Football was his favorite. He graduated in the Class of 1961.

Roger was truly a self-made man. He built an amazing, well respected, multi-million-dollar company that began just as a dream of doing something better. In 1977 while working shift work at Crown Refinery in Pasadena, TX, with little more than $200 borrowed from a friend, Gage Constructors became a reality. He continued working at Crown for a couple of years while getting the company established. In the early 1980’s, he purchased a boom truck (crane) from a rental company and used it to erect steel framing on multiple commercial buildings. He erected the steel on a Dairy Queen and that is when the contractor also needed a commercial flat roof installed. At this point, he had no knowledge of how to install flat roofing, but he did what most successful people do, he hired a few experienced commercial roofers, learned from them and installed his first flat roof.

In the 1980’s in Houston, Texas, times were hard, gas was being rationed and there was not much work to be had. Quitting was not in Roger’s vocabulary. When others in the company wanted to close shop, he continued to press on and met a sales representative from a company named Duro-last. A relationship that would last through-out the years. He began installing Duro-last roofs on Hillhaven Rest Homes all over the southern half of the United States. It was then that the company was truly established and he changed the name of the company to Gage Roofing and Constructors, Inc. He then devoted full-time to commercial roofing and sheet metal. The company completed many projects all over the United States. Just a few were Daikin, in Waller, Texas, the largest tilt wall building in the world (94 acres under one roof). Houston Pavilions, The House of Blues that included a bowling alley and multiple buildings spanning 2 entire blocks, Two Shell Plaza, Hyatt Regency, all in downtown Houston, and Walmart’s, Sam’s and Sears all over the State.

Roger was a member of the National and State Roofing Contractors Association. He consistently received numerous awards from manufacturers every year and was identified as one of the top 25 contractors by multiple manufacturers in the United States each year. There are too many awards and honors to mention here, but there were several that standout.

He was awarded a Lincoln Continental by one manufacturer for being the #1 contractor in the nation and received the award in San Diego. In addition, Sears flew him to Chicago to receive the Partners in Progress Award. Sears had 10,000 vendors and 1,100 contractors that they did business with. They invited their top 104 vendors and 2 contractors to receive their top award. Gage Roofing being 1 of the 2 contractors out of 1,100. Another was receiving the SEED Business of The Year Award in 2002 from the City of South Houston.

Roger wasn’t all work and no play…he has been a long-time supporter of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the youth scholarship program and has maintained a suite at the rodeo that he generously shared with clients, friends and family. He donated generously to local charitable organizations. He had a soft heart for anyone in need. He consistently purchased many FFA projects from numerous school districts in the area. He also donated the roof for the Long Horn Project at NASA. Many were recipients of his generosity in various ways such as receiving groceries, school clothes for their children, repairs to homes, vehicles and much, much more.

He loved western dancing and old country music from the 50’s and 60’s. However, most recently his favorite was Dwight Yoakum. He and Bobbie enjoyed traveling to the Bahamas, Hawaii, Lake Tahoe and many other exotic exciting destinations.

He lived large, made so many lives better and will be greatly missed.

Roger leaves cherished memories to his son Roger Thomas Gage, Jr. and Jody Stevens. Roger is also survived by his sister Lynda and husband Jim Rankin, brother Robin and wife Annette Gage; sister in laws, Mary Gage and Barbara Gage, numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Linda Branton Gage, second wife Bobbie ShingLeur Gage; his parents, Artie and Wendell Gage; sisters: Barbara Gage Hughes (Tommy), Bertha Gage Lacey (Cecil); and brothers Eddie, James, Vernon, Phillip and Mike Gage.

Pallbearers:

Roger Gage Jr., Jody Stevens, Stephen Gage, John Pelzel, Macario Alvarado, Humberto Andujo.