Dr. Rodger A. Pool

Dr. Rodger A. Pool, a leader in higher education, pioneer in distance learning, and cherished husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on December 27.

Rodger was born in the small farming community of Speed, Kansas in 1941 to Earl and Evelyn Pool, the first of four children. He was literally born in the farmhouse where he would spend part of his childhood, noting that "growing up in that small farmhouse community of western Kansas had a great deal to do with shaping many of the values I hold dear," including patriotism, a love for God and family.

His father worked in the pipeline construction business, so the family - which included his siblings Veronica, Mark and Frank - moved around a lot. He ended his high school career in Kirtland, New Mexico, where he played football for the Kirtland Central Broncos. As an all-state quarterback, he led the team to a state championship.

But something even more important than football happened in those years - he also met his future wife, Carolyn, in Kirtland. As the story goes, Rodger winked at Carolyn during church activities, causing her to hit a wrong note on her piano at that moment, instantly taking notice. What began with a wink grew into a lifelong love that endured more than six decades.

After high school, Rodger went to New Mexico State University to work on his Bachelor's in secondary education. He took a break to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1961 to 1963 in "the central states," which included Oklahoma and his native Kansas. He returned to New Mexico State to complete his education, earning not only a Bachelor's degree but also a Master's and a Doctorate in Education. While pursuing his education, he started the first Head Start program for preschool kids in Kirtland.

Rodger and Carolyn were married on September 7, 1965, in the Mesa, Arizona Temple, and built a life together grounded in family, faith, and shared purpose. During college, Rodger was in the ROTC program, and after graduating he served in the military in the early 1970s - landing a job as the top assistant to Brigadier General John Boyd Coatis in Washington state. While there, Carolyn and Rodger had their first child, Michele.

After his military service, Rodger and Carolyn moved back to Kansas briefly as he looked for a job in higher education, which he quickly found in the Dallas County Community College District. His career with the DCCCD would span more than three decades. Texas would become home, and also the birthplace of their four other children - Sheila, Mark, Desiree and Scotty.

Rodger started his tenure at Richland College and later held leadership roles within the Dallas County Community College District in their downtown office. A pioneering advocate for distance education, Dr. Pool was instrumental in developing early telecourse systems and interactive video instruction long before online learning became widespread. He served as the first chair of the American Association of Community Colleges' Instructional Telecommunications Council and chaired the Distance Education Advisory Committee for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, helping shape policy that expanded access to higher education across Texas. In recognition of his leadership in instructional technology, he was inducted into the Texas Distance Learning Hall of Fame.

Rodger had a passion for working with students, and that passion took him away from the district office and back to the colleges within the district, where he served as the interim president of Mountain View College and Eastfield College, before becoming the permanent president at Eastfield in 1997. During his tenure, Eastfield expanded programs and strengthened ties to the community, while Rodger championed innovation and student opportunity.

He retired from the DCCCD in 2006, but continued to educate and mentor future leaders as Senior Lecturer and Director of the Center for Community College Education at Texas A&M University-Commerce until 2011.

Rodger and Carolyn made their home in Garland, Texas, raising their five children and deeply investing in their church and local community. Carolyn volunteered with the PTA and their church, while the couple cherished time with their 10 grandchildren, often attending games and family events together.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; their five children; his 10 grandchildren; his three siblings; many in-laws, nieces and nephews; and numerous students and faculty whose lives he helped make better during his career.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Rodger A. Pool Scholarship, honoring his enduring belief in the power of education to change lives.