Felix Michael Rogers

July 6, 1921 - April 23, 2014 Felix Michael Rogers, General, USAF, (Ret.) General Mike Rogers passed away peacefully on April 23, 2014 at the age of 92 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He served our country with high honor and distinction in the United States Air Force, enlisting as a private in 1942 and rising to the rank of four star general before his retirement in 1978. Born in Somerville, MA to Francis and Louise Rogers (nee Barnes) on July 6, 1921, he was the 10th of 11 children. Rogers graduated from Newton High School in 1939, named Most Versatile in his class. In April 1942, he enlisted in the US Army. He soon thereafter became an aviation cadet, and was commissioned in May 1943 as a 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Corp. During WW II, he was assigned to the 353rd Fighter Squadron, of the 354th Fighter Group, later known as the Pioneer Mustang Group. Rogers became a fighter ace and squadron commander while flying his P-51 Mustang, "Beantown Banshee," from bases in England, Italy, and France. In 1949, he met and married Conover model, Virginia Baker, and together they continued the exciting and varied life of a military family, having four children while living on three continents. General Rogers attended the University of Virginia and was a graduate of both the University of Maryland and the National War College. He held a number of key positions in his Air Force career. Notable among them were: Deputy Chief of Staff, Development Plans, Air Force Systems Command; Senior Member, United Nations Command, Military Armistice Commission, Korea; Vice Commander, Air Training Command; Commander, Air University; and Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (now known as Materiel Command). His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, and Bronze Star. After retiring from the Air Force in 1978, General and Mrs. Rogers moved to Los Angeles where he began a new career as an investment banker. In 1982 he became founding President and CEO of Regent Air, and in 1986 he became the founding Chairman and CEO of MGM Grand Air. Both were luxury airlines serving travelers between New York and Los Angeles. General and Mrs. Rogers moved to Santa Barbara, CA in 1990. General Rogers was predeceased by his wife, Virginia, and is survived by their four children: Ginna Rogers-Gould (David) of Arnold, MD, Stephen Rogers of Odenton, MD, Derek Rogers (Barbara and her daughter, Kasey Marenco) of Los Angeles, CA, and Ian Rogers (Sherry) of Portland, OR, as well as his grandchildren Felicita Gould, Jessica Rogers, and Sean Rogers. General Rogers remarried and is survived by his wife, Catherine, of Santa Barbara, CA, her daughter, Kelsey Butts Desmond of Mobjack, VA, and her son, Phillip Butts, of Topanga, CA. He also leaves his sisters Ruth Lally of Andover, MA, and Patricia Leahy of W. Newton, MA, as well as many, many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. We will dearly miss him, his love of life, his ready humor, his undeniable panache and sense of style, his expansive knowledge and depth of understanding, his remarkable discipline and esprit de corps, his essential optimism, his profound sense of duty to his country, and his never ending love of family. A funeral service and burial with full military honors is to be held at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Falcon Foundation at the Air Force Academy.