H.C.R. No. 51
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Benjamin Joseph Rogers, of Beaumont,
1-2 on December 14, 1994, at the age of 81, has brought a great loss to
1-3 the many friends and relatives of this distinguished Texas
1-4 businessman and philanthropist; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A native of Chicago, Mr. Rogers will be fondly
1-6 remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father, a loyal friend,
1-7 and an upstanding member of his community who demonstrated an
1-8 exemplary concern for the well-being of others; and
1-9 WHEREAS, As a young man, he settled in Beaumont with his
1-10 younger brothers, Sol, Nate, and Victor Rogers, and together they
1-11 established Texas State Optical; and
1-12 WHEREAS, When the brothers later became involved in the
1-13 business of real estate development, Mr. Rogers contributed his
1-14 wealth of knowledge and business acumen as managing partner of
1-15 Rogers Brothers Investments; he helped to lead the Southeast Texas
1-16 community into a period of vibrant growth with the development of
1-17 Gateway Shopping City and Parkdale Mall and also served with
1-18 distinction as president of the Central City Development
1-19 Corporation; and
1-20 WHEREAS, A man of many interests and talents, he also
1-21 contributed his invaluable expertise to the banking industry and
1-22 offered wise and thoughtful guidance as an organizer and director
1-23 of First City Bank-Gateway, San Jacinto Savings, Parkdale Bank, and
1-24 Meyerland Bank, Houston; in recognition of the vast contributions
2-1 he made to the business community in our state, he was inducted
2-2 into the prestigious Texas Business Hall of Fame; and
2-3 WHEREAS, Mr. Rogers continued to work for the betterment of
2-4 the Southeast Texas community through his service as president of
2-5 the Beaumont and Sabine Neches chambers of commerce, the Beaumont
2-6 Music Commission, United Appeals, and the Beaumont Optimist Club;
2-7 in addition, this remarkable gentleman was the founder and
2-8 president of the Joe Louis International Sports Foundation and, in
2-9 1976, helped to raise over one-half million dollars for the
2-10 organization to the benefit of boys' clubs throughout the country;
2-11 and
2-12 WHEREAS, Mr. Rogers was a benefactor of the medical arts as
2-13 well and offered outstanding service to Baptist Hospital of
2-14 Southeast Texas, St. Elizabeth Hospital, and M. D. Anderson
2-15 Hospital and Tumor Institute, which made him a life member in
2-16 recognition of his dedicated service to its board of visitors; and
2-17 WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished lifetime, he was deeply
2-18 committed to helping others achieve human dignity and find a sense
2-19 of purpose in their lives, and to that end, he worked to establish
2-20 facilities for Boys Haven, a home for delinquent and homeless boys,
2-21 and the Minnie Rogers Juvenile Home, which stands as a proud
2-22 memorial to his mother; moreover, the Ben Rogers/Lamar
2-23 University/Beaumont Public Schools: "I Have a Dream" Program, which
2-24 Mr. Rogers's family established in his honor in 1988, has helped
2-25 numerous at-risk high school students to fulfill their dreams of
2-26 success by providing them with encouragement, mentorship programs,
2-27 and scholarships to Lamar University; and
3-1 WHEREAS, He and his wife Julie dedicated 20 acres of wooded
3-2 parkland to the City of Beaumont and have continued to leave their
3-3 mark on the Southeast Texas community through their support of
3-4 numerous schools, religious and cultural institutions, and health
3-5 care facilities; in recognition of their outstanding service, they
3-6 were honored with the National Conference of Christians and Jews
3-7 Brotherhood Award and the Variety Club of Houston's 1994
3-8 Humanitarians of the Year Award; and
3-9 WHEREAS, Benjamin Joseph Rogers was a man of great vision
3-10 whose remarkable contributions to the quality of life in Southeast
3-11 Texas will continue to have a profound effect on the members of
3-12 that community for generations to come; though his special presence
3-13 will be missed by all who knew him, his unique spirit will surely
3-14 live on in the hearts and minds of the many people whose lives were
3-15 touched by this exceptional gentleman; now, therefore, be it
3-16 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-17 hereby pay tribute to the life of Benjamin Joseph Rogers and extend
3-18 sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his beloved wife,
3-19 Julie Rogers; to his daughter, Regina Rogers; to his son and
3-20 daughter-in-law, Dr. Arvey Rogers and Susan Rogers; to his
3-21 grandchildren, Scott, Pamela, Stacey, Rob, and Shana Rogers; to
3-22 his sisters, Anne Vaxler and Sara Davis; to his brothers, Sol
3-23 Rogers, Nate Rogers, and Victor Rogers; and to the many other
3-24 friends and relatives of this outstanding Texan; and, be it further
3-25 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
3-26 for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of
3-27 Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory
4-1 of Benjamin Joseph Rogers.