HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 264 Offered January 21, 2008 Celebrating the life of Travis William Rogers. ----------
Patrons-- Griffith, Fralin, Poindexter and Ware, O.; Senators: Edwards and Smith
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WHEREAS, Travis William Rogers of Cave Spring, a respected citizen and popular Roanoke radio personality for over three decades, died on July 19, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Travis "Ted" William Rogers was born in Person County, North Carolina, on December 1, 1927, the son of Velma Williams Rogers and James Jackson Rogers; and

WHEREAS, Ted Rogers served his country in the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps; and he attended American University in Washington, D.C., and was a graduate of the National Academy of Broadcasting in Washington, D.C., the Naval School of Journalism in Great Lakes, Illinois, and Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke; and

WHEREAS, a pioneer in broadcasting and a familiar voice in almost every Roanoke household, Ted Rogers joined WFIR Radio in 1957, when it was known as WDBJ and owned by Times-World Corporation, and worked for the radio station for 32 years, until his retirement in 1990; and

WHEREAS, Ted Rogers was best known as the WDBJ announcer and the host of the popular "Party Line" and "Ask Your Neighbor" radio shows, and was overwhelmingly voted the best disc jockey in Roanoke by his many admiring fans; and

WHEREAS, always ready to help his fellow residents in need, Ted Rogers was a wonderful goodwill ambassador, not only for the radio station, but also for his community participating in local events at churches, businesses, schools, clubs, and other activities; and he was an enthusiastic supporter of numerous Roanoke Valley civic organizations, including the American Red Cross and the Better Business Bureau; and

WHEREAS, Ted Rogers had strong family values, a natural curiosity, and diverse hobbies and interests, including oil painting, and he enjoyed keeping an air of mystery regarding his personal life and persona; and

WHEREAS, Ted Rogers was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke and supportive of the church's many missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, Ted Rogers will be fondly remembered as a man of great integrity and truthfulness and greatly missed by his devoted wife Jean; his son Kelly and daughter-in-law Maureen; his two brothers and one sister; his numerous other loving family members and friends; and his countless admiring radio listeners over the years in the Roanoke community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the passing of a talented community benefactor and outstanding Virginian, Travis William Rogers; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Travis William Rogers as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.