Roger Le Grove Rogers

Roger Le Grove Rogers died on October 7, 2015, at the age of 82. A man of many interests and talents, he was an outspoken feminist who promoted the role of women in leadership and sports. From 1987 -1991 he traveled the world as Manager/Head of Delegation for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. After the team won the first Women’s World Cup in China in 1991, he promoted women in sports as the publisher and editor of Women’s Soccer World magazine from 1993 – 2000. He was true to his belief that men should help enable women to have time for their own studies and participation in sports by assuming a fair share of household duties. He was invited to give presentations on women in sports in Japan before the Nagano Olympics and in Portugal in 1993.

Rogers was born March 16, 1933 in Burham, England, the oldest child of Gladys Le Grove and Jeffrey Frewin Rogers. After surviving the bombing of his childhood home in Kent and then the London blitz during the Second World War, he completed studies at Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematics School in Rochester, England and then attained a medical degree through St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. He next earned a Doctoral degree in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of London. He fulfilled his National Service in the British Army in Germany, as a laboratory specialist in the Allied Hospital in Hamburg. In 1959 he immigrated to Denver, Colorado where he had been recruited to administer the laboratory for Mercy Hospital, then was Technical Director of the Laboratory at General Rose Hospital. He moved to Montgomery, AL in 1972 to be Director of the Laboratory of Jackson Hospital and Director of Clinical Pathology for Lochte and Lincoln Labs.

His interests included theater and in addition to his full time job he appeared in a number of Montgomery Little Theatre productions in the early 1970’s. With the late Colonel Robert Barmettler he founded and acted with the Montgomery Theatre Guild. He then coached soccer teams for the Y and the Montgomery Academy, founded and coached the Montgomery City Soccer Club Men’s and Women’s teams, and inaugurated the Men’s and Women’s Soccer programs for Huntingdon College. In 1994 he retired from Jackson Hospital and devoted his time to promoting women in soccer.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Judith Phillips Rogers of Montgomery, AL, his daughters Sarah Meador (Kenny Naegele) of Salina, KS, Ann Moree (Dan Moree) of Hereford, AZ, Elizabeth Rogers (Francisco Torres) of Oakland, CA, and Rachel Rogers of Salina, KS, and son Roger Le Grove Rogers (Janice Looney) of Prattville; grandchildren Hilary Valdez, Justine Sowers, Alison Meador, Ian Rogers, Gabriel Torres, and Nicholas, Colin and Carys Goldsmith, and six great grandchildren. He also is survived by his sisters Mary Dawe and Patricia Kuti of England, brother Barry Le Grove Rogers of Arizona, numerous nieces and nephews, and his beloved sheepdog Amanda. The family thank Dr. Frank Gogan for his extraordinary compassion, and thank Staci Harriel, Isaiah Taylor and Samantha Davis for their care and kindness in the last months of his life.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Montgomery Humane Shelter (http://www.montgomeryhumane.com/donate-now/) would be appreciated. The family will receive visitors at Leak Memory Chapel on Saturday, October 10 from 2-4 PM. A private burial service subsequently will be held at Rosemere Cemetery in Opelika, AL.