Mr. Rogers attended local schools and graduated from Andrew Jackson Senior High School in 1957. He attended Florida State College at Jacksonville. He worked in construction and related fields all his life, beginning in Land Surveying while in his senior year in high school. He served the Duval County School Board for 39 years, beginning as a draftsman, then specifications writer, and closing as project manager in the facilities division.
Major events during his career include: the Fletcher Senior High Roof Collapse in 1973, two major construction bond programs, removal and replacement of loose plaster from ceilings of all old schools, installing air conditioning into schools in the 1980’s, Lee High School fire in 1986, and removal of all friable asbestos.
Mr. Rogers was the beginning Certified Asbestos Removal Professional and oversaw the beginning program. Mr. Rogers represented the Duval County School Board on the City Council Professional Services Evaluation Committee. He also served on the City of Jacksonville Minority Disparity Committee that reported the number of contracts awarded to Minority Contractors from all city departments. Mr. Rogers was a Professional member of the Construction Specifications Institute where he served on the Board of Directors of the Local Chapter from 1976-78. Mr. Rogers was a member of the Florida School Plant Management Association, where he served as Chairman of the Carpet Committee from 1985-1990, and the Paint Committee from 1991-1995, providing specifications as Procurement Guidelines for all school districts in Florida. Mr. Rogers served his community and two mayors, Jake Godbold, and Tommy Hazouri, with his appointment to the Commission on Aging. He enjoyed working with “The Mob” (Mayors Older Buddies).
Mr. Rogers served his country in the National Guard and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. While on active Duty with the U.S. Army at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. He sustained an injury that resulted in retirement from the U.S. Army. Mr. Rogers was a member of the American Legion, Association of the United States Army, Disabled American Veterans, Kirby Smith Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans, the National Rifle Association and the Barnett Lodge, No. 187, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Rogers was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where he served as council president 1987, 1989, 1990, 1996, and 1997.
Mr. Rogers is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-three years, Hilda Ann Rogers. He is also survived by his children, Joe C. Rogers, Jr. (Diane), Paula Ann Baucom (Tommy), Deborah Ellen Castleberry (Donald), and Sherri Elaine Atchley (Shawn). Grandchildren, Joe C. Rogers III, Arthur J. Rogers (Bianca), Jonathan Castleberry, Chloe Atchley, Alexia Atchley, Hunter Baucom, Hayley Castleberry, and great granddaughter, Ivy O’Brien, and his sister, Carole Pryce (Earl), and brother Gary P. Rogers (Pamela).
Mr. Rogers, affectionately known as “Pops” to family and friends, was an outdoors person who enjoyed bird hunting, fishing, and camping with family and friends. Pops especially enjoyed the mountain home he and Hilda visited several times a year in the Smokey Mountains in Maggie Valley, North Carolina on Jonathan Creek.
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