Aubrey Leonard Rodgers III, 76, was born on July 4, 1944 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Aubrey Rodgers, Jr. and Gladys (Sherwood) Rodgers. He passed away on April 11, 2021 in Wichita Falls. Memorial Service will be held at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, April 17 2021, at 10 AM.
Aubrey graduated in 1962 from Wichita Falls High School.
On the bus trip to summer camp with the youth group of First Baptist Church, Aubrey prayed that God would show him a career path while at camp. He later said, "instead of working on career ideas at the camp, I got distracted and got on the staff of the camp's daily newspaper." It turned out he had discovered his passion and talent in the field of journalism.
Aubrey began his college career at Midwestern State University, where he worked the campus newspaper, The Wichitan. He graduated in 1966 from Sam Houston State Teacher's College, now Sam Houston State University, with a Bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in photography. While attending Sam, he worked on the campus newspaper The Houstonian.
He served in the US Air Force as an information specialist from 1966 to 1968. While in the service, he wrote for The Nellis Century, the weekly base newspaper at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Aubrey embarked on a diverse career in journalism. His notable publications include The North Las Vegas Valley Times, the twice weekly paper in North Las Vegas, Nevada; Las Vegas Review Journal, four times daily in Las Vegas; Wichita Falls Times; Wichita Falls Record News, morning and evening papers in Wichita Falls; and finally, the combined Wichita Falls Times Record News. Outside of the newspaper world, Aubrey also wrote for City Magazine in Wichita Falls as well as News in General, the newsletter for employees of Wichita General Hospital.
Aubrey was the one who alerted the Governor's office and the Associated Press about the tornadoes ripping through Wichita Falls on April 10, 1979. He accomplished this moments before the phones went dead. He prepared the front page of the daily news following "Terrible Tuesday", and he and his news bureau were awarded an "Instant National Award" by the Associated Press.
He became the superintendent of the Faith Mission in Wichita Falls in 1992 and held this position until 1996. These years were particularly formative for Aubrey's youngest son, Paul, who learned through observing his father what compassion and kindness look like.
Ever the renaissance man, Aubrey next became a school bus driver for Wichita Falls ISD, which he continued for the duration of his life. During his time as a bus driver, he drove the special needs bus. This assignment required a particular combination of patience, attentiveness, intuition, and devotion. These attributes made him beloved by the children entrusted to his care.
Aubrey had a life-long love of chess. He was the chess team coach for Sam Houston Elementary School in Wichita Falls, which won the state championship in 1995 as well as having a member of the team win the individual state championship. He was the founding president and coach of Saturday Knights Chess Club of Wichita Falls. He taught chess classes at Denver Alternative School in an experimental project to reduce recidivism among Wichita Falls ISD students with discipline issues. He was the Director for US Chess Federation events at a local level.
Other notable hobbies that Aubrey enjoyed were arts, crafts, pottery, music, and philately, which is the collection and study of postage stamps.
He was at one time a director of the Scripps-Howard Regional Spelling Bee for the Wichita Falls area as well as a judge for the Texas Senior Citizens State Championship Spelling Bee in Austin.
Aubrey is survived by his sons, Mark and Paul, his daughter, Krisanne, his brothers, Rodney and Albert, his sister, Rachel, his grandchildren, Anthony, Maddison, Dallas, Molly, Kevin, and Malia and his former wife and current close friend, Donna, with whom he shared a deep and abiding love.
Aubrey held the following memberships: Sigma Delta Chi Professional Journalism Society Lions Club of North Las Vegas, Nevada US Chess Federation, Life Member Wichita Falls Chess Club Texas Chess Association Saturday Knights Chess Club of Wichita Falls, Founding President
Aubrey graduated in 1962 from Wichita Falls High School.
On the bus trip to summer camp with the youth group of First Baptist Church, Aubrey prayed that God would show him a career path while at camp. He later said, "instead of working on career ideas at the camp, I got distracted and got on the staff of the camp's daily newspaper." It turned out he had discovered his passion and talent in the field of journalism.
Aubrey began his college career at Midwestern State University, where he worked the campus newspaper, The Wichitan. He graduated in 1966 from Sam Houston State Teacher's College, now Sam Houston State University, with a Bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in photography. While attending Sam, he worked on the campus newspaper The Houstonian.
He served in the US Air Force as an information specialist from 1966 to 1968. While in the service, he wrote for The Nellis Century, the weekly base newspaper at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Aubrey embarked on a diverse career in journalism. His notable publications include The North Las Vegas Valley Times, the twice weekly paper in North Las Vegas, Nevada; Las Vegas Review Journal, four times daily in Las Vegas; Wichita Falls Times; Wichita Falls Record News, morning and evening papers in Wichita Falls; and finally, the combined Wichita Falls Times Record News. Outside of the newspaper world, Aubrey also wrote for City Magazine in Wichita Falls as well as News in General, the newsletter for employees of Wichita General Hospital.
Aubrey was the one who alerted the Governor's office and the Associated Press about the tornadoes ripping through Wichita Falls on April 10, 1979. He accomplished this moments before the phones went dead. He prepared the front page of the daily news following "Terrible Tuesday", and he and his news bureau were awarded an "Instant National Award" by the Associated Press.
He became the superintendent of the Faith Mission in Wichita Falls in 1992 and held this position until 1996. These years were particularly formative for Aubrey's youngest son, Paul, who learned through observing his father what compassion and kindness look like.
Ever the renaissance man, Aubrey next became a school bus driver for Wichita Falls ISD, which he continued for the duration of his life. During his time as a bus driver, he drove the special needs bus. This assignment required a particular combination of patience, attentiveness, intuition, and devotion. These attributes made him beloved by the children entrusted to his care.
Aubrey had a life-long love of chess. He was the chess team coach for Sam Houston Elementary School in Wichita Falls, which won the state championship in 1995 as well as having a member of the team win the individual state championship. He was the founding president and coach of Saturday Knights Chess Club of Wichita Falls. He taught chess classes at Denver Alternative School in an experimental project to reduce recidivism among Wichita Falls ISD students with discipline issues. He was the Director for US Chess Federation events at a local level.
Other notable hobbies that Aubrey enjoyed were arts, crafts, pottery, music, and philately, which is the collection and study of postage stamps.
He was at one time a director of the Scripps-Howard Regional Spelling Bee for the Wichita Falls area as well as a judge for the Texas Senior Citizens State Championship Spelling Bee in Austin.
Aubrey is survived by his sons, Mark and Paul, his daughter, Krisanne, his brothers, Rodney and Albert, his sister, Rachel, his grandchildren, Anthony, Maddison, Dallas, Molly, Kevin, and Malia and his former wife and current close friend, Donna, with whom he shared a deep and abiding love.
Aubrey held the following memberships: Sigma Delta Chi Professional Journalism Society Lions Club of North Las Vegas, Nevada US Chess Federation, Life Member Wichita Falls Chess Club Texas Chess Association Saturday Knights Chess Club of Wichita Falls, Founding President
Aubrey Leonard Rodgers III, 76, was born on July 4, 1944 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Aubrey Rodgers, Jr. and Gladys (Sherwood) Rodgers. He passed away on April 11, 2021 in Wichita Falls. Memorial Service will be held at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, April 17 2021, at 10 AM.
Aubrey graduated in 1962 from Wichita Falls High School.
On the bus trip to summer camp with the youth group of First Baptist Church, Aubrey prayed that God would show him a career path while at camp. He later said, "instead of working on career ideas at the camp, I got distracted and got on the staff of the camp's daily newspaper." It turned out he had discovered his passion and talent in the field of journalism.
Aubrey began his college career at Midwestern State University, where he worked the campus newspaper, The Wichitan. He graduated in 1966 from Sam Houston State Teacher's College, now Sam Houston State University, with a Bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in photography. While attending Sam, he worked on the campus newspaper The Houstonian.
He served in the US Air Force as an information specialist from 1966 to 1968. While in the service, he wrote for The Nellis Century, the weekly base newspaper at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Aubrey embarked on a diverse career in journalism. His notable publications include The North Las Vegas Valley Times, the twice weekly paper in North Las Vegas, Nevada; Las Vegas Review Journal, four times daily in Las Vegas; Wichita Falls Times; Wichita Falls Record News, morning and evening papers in Wichita Falls; and finally, the combined Wichita Falls Times Record News. Outside of the newspaper world, Aubrey also wrote for City Magazine in Wichita Falls as well as News in General, the newsletter for employees of Wichita General Hospital.
Aubrey was the one who alerted the Governor's office and the Associated Press about the tornadoes ripping through Wichita Falls on April 10, 1979. He accomplished this moments before the phones went dead. He prepared the front page of the daily news following "Terrible Tuesday", and he and his news bureau were awarded an "Instant National Award" by the Associated Press.
He became the superintendent of the Faith Mission in Wichita Falls in 1992 and held this position until 1996. These years were particularly formative for Aubrey's youngest son, Paul, who learned through observing his father what compassion and kindness look like.
Ever the renaissance man, Aubrey next became a school bus driver for Wichita Falls ISD, which he continued for the duration of his life. During his time as a bus driver, he drove the special needs bus. This assignment required a particular combination of patience, attentiveness, intuition, and devotion. These attributes made him beloved by the children entrusted to his care.
Aubrey had a life-long love of chess. He was the chess team coach for Sam Houston Elementary School in Wichita Falls, which won the state championship in 1995 as well as having a member of the team win the individual state championship. He was the founding president and coach of Saturday Knights Chess Club of Wichita Falls. He taught chess classes at Denver Alternative School in an experimental project to reduce recidivism among Wichita Falls ISD students with discipline issues. He was the Director for US Chess Federation events at a local level.
Other notable hobbies that Aubrey enjoyed were arts, crafts, pottery, music, and philately, which is the collection and study of postage stamps.
He was at one time a director of the Scripps-Howard Regional Spelling Bee for the Wichita Falls area as well as a judge for the Texas Senior Citizens State Championship Spelling Bee in Austin.
Aubrey is survived by his sons, Mark and Paul, his daughter, Krisanne, his brothers, Rodney and Albert, his sister, Rachel, his grandchildren, Anthony, Maddison, Dallas, Molly, Kevin, and Malia and his former wife and current close friend, Donna, with whom he shared a deep and abiding love.
Aubrey held the following memberships: Sigma Delta Chi Professional Journalism Society Lions Club of North Las Vegas, Nevada US Chess Federation, Life Member Wichita Falls Chess Club Texas Chess Association Saturday Knights Chess Club of Wichita Falls, Founding President
Aubrey graduated in 1962 from Wichita Falls High School.
On the bus trip to summer camp with the youth group of First Baptist Church, Aubrey prayed that God would show him a career path while at camp. He later said, "instead of working on career ideas at the camp, I got distracted and got on the staff of the camp's daily newspaper." It turned out he had discovered his passion and talent in the field of journalism.
Aubrey began his college career at Midwestern State University, where he worked the campus newspaper, The Wichitan. He graduated in 1966 from Sam Houston State Teacher's College, now Sam Houston State University, with a Bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in photography. While attending Sam, he worked on the campus newspaper The Houstonian.
He served in the US Air Force as an information specialist from 1966 to 1968. While in the service, he wrote for The Nellis Century, the weekly base newspaper at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Aubrey embarked on a diverse career in journalism. His notable publications include The North Las Vegas Valley Times, the twice weekly paper in North Las Vegas, Nevada; Las Vegas Review Journal, four times daily in Las Vegas; Wichita Falls Times; Wichita Falls Record News, morning and evening papers in Wichita Falls; and finally, the combined Wichita Falls Times Record News. Outside of the newspaper world, Aubrey also wrote for City Magazine in Wichita Falls as well as News in General, the newsletter for employees of Wichita General Hospital.
Aubrey was the one who alerted the Governor's office and the Associated Press about the tornadoes ripping through Wichita Falls on April 10, 1979. He accomplished this moments before the phones went dead. He prepared the front page of the daily news following "Terrible Tuesday", and he and his news bureau were awarded an "Instant National Award" by the Associated Press.
He became the superintendent of the Faith Mission in Wichita Falls in 1992 and held this position until 1996. These years were particularly formative for Aubrey's youngest son, Paul, who learned through observing his father what compassion and kindness look like.
Ever the renaissance man, Aubrey next became a school bus driver for Wichita Falls ISD, which he continued for the duration of his life. During his time as a bus driver, he drove the special needs bus. This assignment required a particular combination of patience, attentiveness, intuition, and devotion. These attributes made him beloved by the children entrusted to his care.
Aubrey had a life-long love of chess. He was the chess team coach for Sam Houston Elementary School in Wichita Falls, which won the state championship in 1995 as well as having a member of the team win the individual state championship. He was the founding president and coach of Saturday Knights Chess Club of Wichita Falls. He taught chess classes at Denver Alternative School in an experimental project to reduce recidivism among Wichita Falls ISD students with discipline issues. He was the Director for US Chess Federation events at a local level.
Other notable hobbies that Aubrey enjoyed were arts, crafts, pottery, music, and philately, which is the collection and study of postage stamps.
He was at one time a director of the Scripps-Howard Regional Spelling Bee for the Wichita Falls area as well as a judge for the Texas Senior Citizens State Championship Spelling Bee in Austin.
Aubrey is survived by his sons, Mark and Paul, his daughter, Krisanne, his brothers, Rodney and Albert, his sister, Rachel, his grandchildren, Anthony, Maddison, Dallas, Molly, Kevin, and Malia and his former wife and current close friend, Donna, with whom he shared a deep and abiding love.
Aubrey held the following memberships: Sigma Delta Chi Professional Journalism Society Lions Club of North Las Vegas, Nevada US Chess Federation, Life Member Wichita Falls Chess Club Texas Chess Association Saturday Knights Chess Club of Wichita Falls, Founding President
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
