Buddy,

          I am so sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. If not for being out of town I would have been at the funeral.

Through my high school years there is no one that I respected more. I'm sure all of us have someone other than a parent that impacted our lives. Your dad was that guy for me. I will always remember the lesson he taught me when he fined me $15 for swearing at an umpire after my third strike out of the game. When I told him I didn't have $15 he said "I don't expect you to pay it, I want you to know that you have been fined". I'm sure he had no idea that I would carry that with me to this day.

          Although D. Rog was not listed as the "Head Coach" of our team, indeed we all knew he was. I also know it wasn't about him when we won, it was about the team. I still picture him by the dugout after we won the regional tournament to go to the state tournament. He let us us enjoy the moment rather than go on the field. But I know he was smiling and proud.

          I never had a class that your dad taught, but I learned as much from him as any student he had in class. He taught a lot of life lessons to a lot of people. In my eyes he was a true gentleman. I have nothing but good memories of D. Rog.

Sincerely,

Doug