Corky Rogers

Charles Buxton "Corky" Rogers IV (December 19, 1943 – February 26, 2020) was an American football coach.

Rogers was born in Bay City, Michigan where his father was stationed in 1943, but the family soon returned to Florida.

His nickname “Corky” came from his father, Chuck, who read about World War II hero Colin Kelly from Madison, Florida who called his own son Corky.

Chuck worked 20 years as a correspondent for Associated Press before beginning a career with the City of Jacksonville in the Recreation Department.

There was a strong father-son tradition in the Rogers family.

Chuck was a member of Robert E. Lee High School's first graduating class and played football there.

Corky also graduated from Lee High School in 1961 where he was a three-sport athlete, playing for the Generals’ 1960 unofficial state championship football team, the 1961 baseball state championship team and the basketball team.

Chuck was football captain in his senior year at the University of Florida and Corky wanted to do likewise.

Unfortunately, Florida wasn't interested in Corky, so he enrolled at the Florida Military Academy prep school and spent a year under coaching icon Willard “Dub” Palmer.

Georgia Tech Coach Bobby Dodd offered Rogers a scholarship, so he became a Yellow Jacket.

Rogers was a quarterback on the Tech freshman team, a varsity defensive back for two seasons, then a wide receiver for his senior year in 1965.

Coach Dodd made a big impression on the young Rogers and he told this story at an interview:

“Years later, (Coach Dodd) was down here for an alumni reception at a hotel out at the beach.

My wife and I went out to see him.

He was on the balcony where this elderly woman was serving boiled shrimp.

Coach Dodd said, ‘Y”know, if you tell that lady her hair looks nice, you’re not going to run out of boiled shrimp all night, and what’ve you done?

Something honest, fair and nice.

Do that and people are going to want to do something nice for you.’

That’s the best coaching lesson I ever got."

Rogers was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1966, but his college deferral had expired, so he was required to serve a year of active military duty in the Army Reserve.

He was back in Baltimore the next season, but with receivers like Raymond Berry, Jimmy Orr and John Mackey on the roster, Rogers didn't make the final cut.

He began playing semi-pro football in Atlanta while taking classes to finish his college requirements.

He married a flight attendant named Linda in 1968.

After receiving a degree in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech, he returned with his wife to Jacksonville.

The couple had two daughters, Tracy and Jennifer.

Both are now married and there are several grandchildren.

Rogers sold insurance for a short time until he was offered a job as an assistant football coach at Jean Ribault High School and teaching at Ribault Junior High.

He served as the head football coach at two high schools in Jacksonville, Florida, Robert E. Lee High School from 1972 to 1988 and the Bolles School from 1989 to 2016.

Rogers spent three years as an assistant at Ribault before taking the head coaching position at his alma mater, Lee High School, in 1972.

He recorded 10 straight district titles from 1977 to 1986 and coached future Green Bay Packers Edgar Bennett and LeRoy Butler, who went on to become a four-time All-Pro safety.

Rogers won his 100th game in 1984, but the goal that eluded him at Lee was a state championship, and it still bothered him:

"It certainly is one of the real disappointments in my career. We had the players to do it. We just didn't get it done and I'm the one that must answer for that. But I do think it was a growing period in my life where I learned what it takes. And maybe not winning one kept me that much more hungry when we came over to Bolles."

Lee's record in 1987 was 6–4, which ended a string of 10 consecutive district titles.

A hit and run by a drunk driver left Rogers with a shattered left leg in March, 1988.

He spent two months in St. Lukes Hospital, followed by almost a year on crutches and 18 surgeries over the years to correct the injury.

At the time, Frank Callihan was Bolles' Athletic Director.

While Rogers was hospitalized, Callihan made several visits and privately expressed his desire for Rogers to coach at Bolles.

Rogers began to think about his future at Lee.

The team's 1988 season improved to 8–2, while Bolles went 5-5, and the Bolles Athletic Director was ready to make a coaching change.

In 1989, Rogers decided to leave Lee High School after 17 successful seasons and a record of 141-39-1.