James T. Rogers

"Buddy"

 Class of 1959

"Dimes and dollars, dollars and dimes,

an empty pocket is the worst of crimes"

MYRTLE BEACH | James T. ''Buddy'' Rogers, 64, died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.

He was born Feb. 12, 1941, in Myrtle Beach, the son of the late James Dew and Marjorie Morse Rogers. His brother, William D. ''Bill'' Rogers pre-deceased him.

Coach Rogers was a 1959 graduate of Myrtle Beach High where he was a three sport all-star athlete. He received his under graduate degree in Bachelor of Arts in physical education in 1966 and his Master of Science in health and physical education in 1971 from Marshall University. Buddy served in the Army from 1966 thru 1968. He was a teacher, varsity men's basketball and assistant football coach at Myrtle Beach High School from 1968-1969, from 1972-1979 he was the Athletic Director and head varsity basketball of Coastal Academy and won the independent school state basketball championship in 1972-1973 and he also coached soccer and baseball. In 1980-1885 Buddy was a teacher and assistant basketball coach at Socastee High School, where he also coached varsity soccer taking the team to the state championship. From 1985-2005 taught drivers education and served as varsity men's basketball coach, men's and women tennis, girls varsity basketball and junior varsity boys basketball during the career at Myrtle Beach High School.

Over the years as a coach he has been named region coach of the year for multiple sports numerous times. In 2001-2002 was named the Coach of the Year in the state for basketball and coached three different teams (men's basketball, men's and women's tennis) to State Championships in the same year, one of only four coaches in the state's history to accomplish this. His basketball team in 2001-2002 finished the year ranked #23 nationally by USA Today. He was instrumental in hosting the Medalist and Adidas Basketball Clinics in Myrtle Beach for over twenty years and served on the inaugural Beach Ball Classic Committee and was instrumental in developing that tournament.

As an educator, Coach Rogers taught various subjects including social studies, health, physical education, driver's education and served as a guidance counselor. Buddy also donated much of his time to Myrtle Beach working as a lifeguard, volunteering as a coach at Myrtle Beach Recreation Center and participating in adult sports such as basketball and softball. In recent years, he coached AAU basketball and has worked with the youth of Myrtle Beach during his teaching and coaching career.


Survivors include his wife, Petrice ''Pet'' Kinney Rogers; his step-children, Mary Frances Harper and Benjamin Lide Harper all of Myrtle Beach; three sisters, Marjorie R. Gray of Myrtle Beach, Jean R. Segars and husband, Van, of Springfield, Mo., Jo Anne R. West of Conway; a brother, the Rev. James D. Morse and wife, Peggy, of Myrtle Beach; his nephews and nieces, Philip James Gray, Robert Roger Gray and wife, Becky, Danette Hope Gray, William Wayne Gray and wife, Sherri, Vincent Wesley Segars and wife, Alisa, Shane Christain Segars and wife, Janell, Thomas Brent Rogers, Travis Ryan West, Lauren Elaine Rogers, Edwin ''Ned'' Campbell Rogers, William Brice Rogers, and Kathryn Mae Rogers, and several great nieces and nephews.


Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, at the First Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in the Ocean Woods Memorial Cemetery.