John Paul Rogers

John Paul Rogers, LTCOL, USA (ret) 21 June, 1927 - 20 March, 2018 John P. Rogers departed this life surrounded by family in his Thornton, Colorado home on 20 March, 2018. He succumbed to complications from the Flu and Pneumonia. John grew up in rural Oklahoma, a “child of the depression,” in the boom or bust Oil business of the Central time zone. He graduated from Centralia, Illinois High School early, and entered the US Navy in 1944 at age 17. He set the High School record at Centralia by earning 14 Athletic Letters in Golf, Track, Football and Basketball. After his WWII time as a Fireman aboard three separate ships in the Navy, John attended Oklahoma University. In addition to the GI Bill, Athletic Scholarships (Golf, Track and Basketball), he enrolled in Army ROTC. He also worked in the kitchen of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, where he was roommates with James Garner. With all he had going on in College, he acquired the nickname “Motorbutt”. Rumor has it he actually made money while putting himself through school. He was probably most famous for “the shot that sunk Kansas,” a buzzer beater that knocked them out of the BIG 7 Basketball Championship in early 1951. John graduated from OU in 1951 and served in the US Army for 22 years. Starting out as an Artillery Officer, he served in Korea and later transitioned to the Quartermaster Corps, also serving in Vietnam, where earned the Legion of Merit during the Tet Offensive. During his early Army Career, he served with Meadowlark Lemon, who later went on to establish the Harlem Globetrotters. Mr. Lemon tried to get John to quit the Army and become a Globetrotter. After his military career, John spent time in real estate and retail sales, centered in Colorado and Georgia. After retiring from the military, John continued playing Basketball (beating his children at “HORSE” and with his underhanded foul shots) and Golf, becoming a charter member of Hiwan Country Club, CO in the 60s, and running the Seniors Program at Indian Hills CC, Georgia in the 80s and 90s. The ultimate “organizer,” John’s ability to come up with side bets or different Golf formats made him legendary among golfing friends. His endless stories made any event much more than a Golf Game. His hole in one at age 86 was testament to his golfing prowess. Hall of Fame Pro Golfer, TV Announcer and friend Ken Venturi said it best in a letter he sent to JPR’s 80th Birthday celebration: “John was better tee to green than I was. Hopefully none of you inherited his putting stroke.” Despite his significant athletic and military achievements, John’s primary attribute was, quite simply, his steadfast belief in strength of family. He raised ten children, but he “adopted” virtually every child he met. The primary motivator behind family reunions, he also became something of a “Godfather” figure to all 58 of his father’s offspring, including those that had “married into this crazy family.” Most of the aforementioned stories he would tell taught everyone the value of supporting friends, family and “brothers in arms” through good times and bad. John Rogers is survived by his ten children, eleven grandchildren and a world full of people whom he mentored. Instead of flowers or cards, that group of people is invited to a celebration of John’s life which will be held in Norman, Oklahoma on Friday, 8 June. Watch this website for further details. Heaven is a better place with John in it, but at age 90+, he’s late for the family tee time.