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Historian, News-Sun contributor W. Lane Rogers dies
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| W. Lane Rogers |
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The Benson community suffered a loss last week with the death of longtime resident Lane Rogers.
Rogers, 64, died of an illness on Thursday in Tucson.
Rogers is known for his love of Benson and San Pedro Valley. He spent his life researching the community's history, fighting to preserve old buildings and writing about all that he learned.
Rogers authored more than 900 articles for three Arizona newspapers, including the San Pedro Valley News-Sun and Arizona Range News.
Most recently, Rogers' weekly column "The Way We Were" has been running in the Benson and Willcox newspapers.
"Lane Rogers possessed a special flair with the pen," said News-Sun Managing Editor Chris Dabovich. "I enjoyed reading his 'The Way We Were' features published in the News-Sun and Arizona Range News newspapers. History was Lane's passion. He was always a professional, and I will miss him."
Besides newspaper articles, Rogers also wrote several books, including "When All Roads Led to Tombstone," "The Utah Murders" and "Crimes and Misdeeds: Headlines from Arizona's Past."
In Benson, Rogers was known for his love of his own home. He lived in the Roadmaster's House built around 1880. He had numerous projects to restore the home to original form.
Rogers' wife Pat said her husband had a passion for this community.
"He had file cabinets full of history from Benson and the Southwest," she said. "It was his passion. This is his community. In general, he loved Arizona and the Southwest. He had so much information in his head. I don't know where he put it all. He was one of the most knowledgeable about Benson, if not the most knowledgeable."
Pat said while history, political science and writing were his professional interests, Rogers had a love for music. He owned more than 5,000 albums, most of which were classical. He also owned thousands of volumes of books and journals on Arizona.
Pat said besides his home and history, Rogers loved her and she loved him. She said she is going to miss her husband of 32 years. She said she is going to miss the passion that Rogers had for history, his family and his animals, including several dogs and six cats.
Rogers lived in Benson for the last 10 years, moving from Tucson.
Pat said Benson was his home and it is only fitting that he will be laid to rest in the High Street Cemetery.
Services for Rogers will be held Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, starting at 8 a.m. The graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. at the High Street Cemetery.
A memorial account has been established at Bank of America to assist the family with funeral expenses.
Rogers is survived by his wife Patricia, the love of his life for 32 years; his brother Gary Rogers (Margie) of Sandy, Utah; and sisters Mary Gale and Ilene Rogers of San Diego, Calif. He is survived by four children: W. Lane Rogers II (Kim) of Phoenix; Eric Lane Rogers (Teresa) of Ogden, Utah; Rachael Brett Kramer (Drew) of Denver, and Rebecca Tess Congdon (Derek) of Littleton, Colo. He has eight grandchildren: Alexandria Taylor Strader; Katelin Marie Rogers; Sydney Rose, Jaden Rachael, Joseph James, and Josh Derek Congdon; Cannon Michael and Mya Rose Rogers. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.
The Benson community suffered a loss last week with the death of longtime resident Lane Rogers.
Rogers, 64, died of an illness on Thursday in Tucson.
Rogers is known for his love of Benson and San Pedro Valley. He spent his life researching the community's history, fighting to preserve old buildings and writing about all that he learned.
Rogers authored more than 900 articles for three Arizona newspapers, including the San Pedro Valley News-Sun and Arizona Range News.
Most recently, Rogers' weekly column "The Way We Were" has been running in the Benson and Willcox newspapers.
"Lane Rogers possessed a special flair with the pen," said News-Sun Managing Editor Chris Dabovich. "I enjoyed reading his 'The Way We Were' features published in the News-Sun and Arizona Range News newspapers. History was Lane's passion. He was always a professional, and I will miss him."
Besides newspaper articles, Rogers also wrote several books, including "When All Roads Led to Tombstone," "The Utah Murders" and "Crimes and Misdeeds: Headlines from Arizona's Past."
In Benson, Rogers was known for his love of his own home. He lived in the Roadmaster's House built around 1880. He had numerous projects to restore the home to original form.
Rogers' wife Pat said her husband had a passion for this community.
"He had file cabinets full of history from Benson and the Southwest," she said. "It was his passion. This is his community. In general, he loved Arizona and the Southwest. He had so much information in his head. I don't know where he put it all. He was one of the most knowledgeable about Benson, if not the most knowledgeable."
Pat said while history, political science and writing were his professional interests, Rogers had a love for music. He owned more than 5,000 albums, most of which were classical. He also owned thousands of volumes of books and journals on Arizona.
Pat said besides his home and history, Rogers loved her and she loved him. She said she is going to miss her husband of 32 years. She said she is going to miss the passion that Rogers had for history, his family and his animals, including several dogs and six cats.
Rogers lived in Benson for the last 10 years, moving from Tucson.
Pat said Benson was his home and it is only fitting that he will be laid to rest in the High Street Cemetery.
Services for Rogers will be held Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, starting at 8 a.m. The graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. at the High Street Cemetery.
A memorial account has been established at Bank of America to assist the family with funeral expenses.
Rogers is survived by his wife Patricia, the love of his life for 32 years; his brother Gary Rogers (Margie) of Sandy, Utah; and sisters Mary Gale and Ilene Rogers of San Diego, Calif. He is survived by four children: W. Lane Rogers II (Kim) of Phoenix; Eric Lane Rogers (Teresa) of Ogden, Utah; Rachael Brett Kramer (Drew) of Denver, and Rebecca Tess Congdon (Derek) of Littleton, Colo. He has eight grandchildren: Alexandria Taylor Strader; Katelin Marie Rogers; Sydney Rose, Jaden Rachael, Joseph James, and Josh Derek Congdon; Cannon Michael and Mya Rose Rogers. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.
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Billy Young wrote on Aug 5, 2009 12:29 PM: