William G. ROGERS

1932 - 2015

ROGERS, William G. William Gibson "Bill" Rogers William was born in Atlanta, GA the only son of Jesse Lee Barnes Rogers and Kenneth Gibson Rogers, pioneer news photographer. He attended Mary Lynn and Bass Junior High Schools in Atlanta and graduated from The McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN. He attended Georgia Tech, and was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity transferring to the University of Georgia in Athens where he graduated with a B.S. in Forestry. After graduation he served on active duty with the U.S. Naval Reserve in the Pacific Area obtaining the rank of Lieutenant. He earned a Naval Scholarship at Yale University and earned his MF degree there at The Yale School of Forestry in 1958. Upon graduation, he took his first job with the former United States Plywood Corp. extending his career with that organization under various flags for the next thirty years and his entire commercial business career. Shortly after returning to Atlanta, William met and married his wife, Margaret Hahn of Atlanta. They had three sons, Jay Gibson, William Scott, and Kenneth Farrow who survive him. William's career with the same forest products organizations took he and his bride to a series of responsibilities and moves from Atlanta, Nashville, TN, Lake City, FL, New Orleans, LA and finally much travel throughout the U.S. as National Accounts Sales Manager. Upon the dissolution of U.S. Plywood he entered into a period of public service by joining the staff of Florida's Department of the state's first forest products co-op, The Olde South Trading Group, and early promotions associated with the early "Fresh From Florida Program". Upon retiring from his service of ten years with the Department of Agriculture he established a private practice as a Certified (SAF) Forester and Certified (ISA) Arborist through his consulting firm, Scientific Tree Care of Tallahassee. Bill always lived a life including service to his community and family in many ways, serving as President of the Lake City Rotary Club, President of the Capital City Kiwanis Club of Tallahassee, and a founding charter member of both the Marzuq Shriners, and Bradfordville Kiwanis Clubs. Along with Margaret they were two of the original 50 charter members of the Christ Presbyterian Church on Bannerman Rd., Tallahassee. In one of his final gestures of service Bill became a volunteer with the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program serving children in both Leon and Franklin Counties. Much of Bill's final years were enjoying the sunsets from his dock on Apalachicola Bay near the home he and his wife Peggy shared there. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at Christ Presbyterian Church at 2317 Bannerman Road in Tallahassee. A private interment will be held at a later date at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Ga. In lieu of flowers any memorials may be sent to the home for cancer patients - Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 760 Pollard Blvd. S.W. Atlanta, GA 30315 in the name of William and his father, Kenneth G. Rogers, or to The Westminster Oaks Foundation, 4449 Meadering Way, Tallahassee, FL 32308-5710.