Glenville State College is remembering Professor Emeritus James “Jim” Rogers after he passed away on Saturday, November 7, 2020. In addition to his nearly 30 years of service to Glenville State College, Professor Rogers was a prolific artist who received many awards and recognition for his paintings and prints, illustrated two books, presented programs to numerous civic groups and school classrooms, and gave art lessons to groups and individuals. His paintings and prints can be found in permanent collections at Glenville State and West Virginia University, as well as in private collections.
Professor Rogers’ obituary is below.
James Weldon Rogers, 78, passed away on Saturday, November 7, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, surrounded by his family. Jim was born November 8, 1941, in Richwood, West Virginia, to Snowden Forrest and Hattie V. Justice Rogers.
His family moved to Canvas, West Virginia, where Jim attended Nicholas County Schools and graduated from Nicholas County High School in 1959.
Jim’s additional academic degrees include a B.A. Degree in Education from Glenville State College in 1963; a 1966 Master’s Degree in Art from West Virginia University; and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in painting and printmaking from Wichita State University in 1972.
Jim began his teaching career at Parkersburg High School in 1964-1966. He was recruited by Glenville State College and taught in the Art Department from 1966-1970. From 1970-1972, Jim attended Wichita State University and in 1972-1976 he returned to the Mountain State to join the faculty of Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia. Jim’s career led him back to GSC in 1976 where he remained until his retirement in 1999. He taught on the main campus in Glenville and also traveled to the Nicholas County Center two afternoons a week.
As a senior at GSC, Jim was selected to be the Pioneer Mascot for the college. Proudly wearing the buckskins and carrying the musket at football games and other campus activities was an activity Jim enjoyed. In the 1980’s Jim was asked to create a sketch of a “Pioneer” to be used in the Athletic Department by Dr. Joe Now, Athletic Director. The original image of the pioneer was extended to a full-figure of a pioneer and became the logo for the college. The image was used extensively in college publications, on t-shirts, and numerous college items. It was reproduced as a bronze replica used on GSC’s Curtis Elam Athletic Hall of Fame Wall in the Physical Education Building and is carved in the President’s Mace which is used during all college formal ceremonies. Jim’s Pioneer is also displayed on the Commemorative Coin for GSC’s 150th Anniversary.
A prolific artist, Jim participated in many exhibitions receiving awards and recognition for his paintings and prints. He illustrated two books, a textbook and a children’s book, “The Little Old Woman with a Wart on Her Nose.” He presented programs to numerous civic groups and school classrooms, and gave art lessons to groups and individuals. Jim’s paintings and prints can be found in permanent collections at WVU and GSC as well as in private collections in many homes and businesses.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his older brother, Wade Kermit Rogers of Bridgewater, Virginia.
Jim was married for 52 years to Marilyn “Susie” Strickling Rogers and they have three children, Eric Matthew Rogers and Ashley in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Jennifer Lyn Rogers Ankrum in Blacksburg, Virginia; and Melissa An Rogers Sherman and her husband Trent in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Jim is “Poppy” to four grandchildren including Whitnee Alyse Young Woods and her husband Jacob in Blacksburg; Brenna Faith Ankrum, a student at Radford University; Trenton Stone Sherman, Air National Guard in Martinsburg; and Isabella Hope Ankrum, a student at Virginia Tech. Poppy also treasured his two great-grandsons, Owen Thomas Woods and William Jacob Woods in Blacksburg.
Jim is also survived by his sister-in-law Nancy Rogers; niece Kimberly Rogers Wallace, her husband Kevin and children Jada and A’Leah; nephews Douglas Rogers, his wife Jennifer and children Garrett, Maddie, and Tye; and Todd Rogers and his wife Tammy.
Jim has been listed with the Human Life Registry for many years and his body has been accepted by the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia. In lieu of a service at this time, the family is planning a Memorial Art Show in the Spring of 2021 to display many of the paintings and prints of Professor Emeritus James W. Rogers.
