V. Jud Rogers, 70, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away on September 10, 2018. Born June 23, 1948, in Topeka, Kansas, to Virgil and Doris Mae Rogers. He was preceded in death by his parents; he is survived by his loving family: wife of nearly 49 years, Linda; children, son Bret (Julie) and daughter Brooke Brownlee (Brandon), both of Knoxville; sisters Ardith Pulford (Bill) of Montrose, Colorado, and Judy Fitch (Doug) of Topeka. His legacy includes seven grandchildren and six nieces and nephews.

Jud grew up in Topeka, where he grew to love the University of Kansas Jayhawks. He began dating Linda in high school, and they were married during the semester break of their senior year of college while Jud was on leave from his naval reserve training. He majored in English at Washburn University in Topeka; following graduation he taught English at various schools in Topeka while also coaching multiple sports, winning city and state championships in basketball. He eventually went to work for the local newspaper, the Topeka Capital-Journal, where he began to rise in the management ranks, moving to train at newspapers in Independence, Missouri; Shawnee, Oklahoma; Arkansas City, Kansas; and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In anticipation of a sale of the newspaper in Williamsport, he shifted to working in human resources at a local bank, where he continued to progress until he got the last—and favorite—job of his career as the marketing director for Little League Baseball International. While in Williamsport, he also found time to serve on the local chamber of commerce and the board of directors of Lycoming College, and help create Leadership Lycoming, a program that encourages young members of the business community to invest their talents in improving quality of life for their city. Even so, he became a 6 handicap on the golf course, and he and Linda were fixtures at local concerts, soccer and basketball games, and swim meets, supporting Bret and Brooke in all their extracurricular endeavors. After retirement, he and Linda relocated to Knoxville to relax, travel, and spend time with family. This often took the form of completing crossword puzzles, playing golf, and taking trips to drive Route 66 and to visit Civil War battlefields as well as multiple holiday celebrations spent telling stories and laughing together.

Jud’s sense of humor, enjoyment of music, and love of animals were only surpassed by his fierce love and devotion to his family and friends. We have each been blessed to have shared our lives with him, and our experience will be diminished by his absence in the years to come.