Jack Rogers ’45 | Cornell Hall of Fame ’88
It is with sadness that we share the loss of Jack Rogers'45. Our deepest condolences go out to his family from the entire "Big Red" community.
Jack was Class of `45, but played on the `46, `47, and `48 teams, along with the 1942 team. His Cornell career was interrupted, like many from his generation, by the war. He was inducted into the Cornell Hall of Fame in 1988 and won seven letters as a varsity athlete. Of course he played in era where there were no participation trophies! Earning a letter in his day was a big deal and he earned 7 of them. In addition to playing football, he was also on the Big Red swim team and raced the 50 and 100 freestyle event. He was an avid sailor and even coached the sailing team here at Cornell for a number of years. He had a grandson who won a couple of National Championships with the Big Red Lightweight Rowing team. He was a generous philanthropist and endowed the Defensive Coordinator position. As a player, he played both ways and was an end. He always contended that the tight-end was the toughest guy on the field, because he has to block, catch passes and run. He loved the game and loved Cornell.
Hall of Fame - Class of '88
Football, Men's Swimming & Diving
He won a total of seven varsity letters during his career, four in football and three in swimming. He played end on the football team in 1942, then entered the Army in June 1943. He suffered near-death injuries during WWII, but he miraculously recovered and returned to Cornell to play a leading role for the football teams of 1946, 1947 and the Ivy champions of 1948. For his consistent performance throughout his career, he was chosen to represent the East in the annual East-West Shrine game in San Francisco on New Year's Day in 1949, and was also selected to play in the Eastern College All-Star game vs. the New York Giants that year. He was a 50-and 100-yard freestyle specialist in swimming, and also swam a leg on the 400 freestyle relay. He received his degree in civil engineering in 1949, and was an assistant football coach at Cornell while attending the graduate business school. Rogers, who graduated from Westfield, N.J. High School, also has coached the Big Red sailing team.
