William R. Rogers

Rogers—William R. Rogers, 90, on July 15, 2022, at Well-Spring Retirement Community in Greensboro, N.C. Bill was born on June 20, 1932, to William Raymond Rogers and Alice Elizabeth Hollis Rogers in the rural farm community of Oswego, N.Y. When Bill’s father took a position as pastor of a Baptist church in Philadelphia, Pa., Bill was introduced to urban life.

Following graduation in 1950 from Frankford High School in Philadelphia, Bill attended Kalamazoo College in Michigan, where he met Beverley Partington, who was attending Western Michigan College. They participated together in workcamps, worship services, and other activities. Bill and Bev married in 1954 at Bev’s home church in Muskegon. They moved to Chicago, Ill., for Bill’s graduate work in religion and psychology at the University of Chicago. Bev took a position teaching fourth grade. Recovering from a bout of tuberculosis, Bill engaged deeply with the social issues of the day in Chicago. Two of their children, John and Susan, were born while they were in Chicago.

Bill took a position in 1962 as assistant professor of religion and psychology and director of counseling services at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. Bill and Bev began attending Quaker worship. The teaching was rich and rewarding. Bill was known for his innovative teaching style and supportive counseling of students during the Vietnam War. While at Earlham, their daughter Nancy was born.

During his sabbatical year at Earlham, Bill accepted a position as a visiting professor at Harvard in the Clinical Psychology and Public Practice Program, commuting weekly from Richmond to Cambridge, Mass. At the end of his sabbatical, Bill was offered the Parkman Professor of Religion and Psychological Studies at Harvard Divinity School. For eight years the Rogers family enjoyed life at Harvard. They became active at Framingham (Mass.) Meeting. Bev found a position teaching, and Bill developed a reputation in interdisciplinary work at the Divinity School and in the School of Education.

A letter in 1979 inviting Bill to consider applying for the presidency of Guilford College piqued Bill’s curiosity. Although he loved his experience at Harvard, Bill was attracted to the values of Quaker education in a liberal arts setting. He appreciated Guilford’s interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning, and the opportunity to be involved in students’ lives in a small college atmosphere. In 1980, Bill accepted an offer to become the sixth president of Guilford College. From 1980–1996, Bill served the college faithfully and successfully. He helped organize the college’s first major capital campaign, worked with Bev through visitation among Friends to repair the distance that had grown between Guilford and Friends meetings in the state, developed new academic programs, worked to create the Friends Center on campus, and inspired the inclusion of art galleries in the new wing of the library. Progress was made in diversifying the faculty and student body, and outreach into the greater Greensboro community through participation in various civic and cultural programs formed closer bonds between the college and the community. Bill and Bev moved their membership to New Garden Meeting, where they were active in the life of the meeting. Bill often gave ministry in worship.

In retirement, Bill and Bev enjoyed their summer home in Maine; travel; involvement in various boards (including the board of Friends Committee on National Legislation), foundations, and cultural programs; ongoing attendance at New Garden; and continued connection with Guilford, including the annual Bill Rogers Tennis Tournament.

Bill is survived by his wife of 68 years, Beverly Rogers; three children, John Rogers (Dana), Susan Apple (Bill), and Nancy Glassman; seven grandchildren; and two sisters, Jean Morgan and Dianne Lytle.