Former Athens Mayor Wm "Bill" Rodgers died June 7 2003
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William R. "Bill"
Rodgers Died: 06-07-2003 William R. “Bill” Rodgers, 70, of Athens, went to be with his Savior on Saturday, June 7, 2003, at Woods Memorial Hospital in Etowah. A native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, he was a son of the late William Henry and Laura Mae Ryder Rodgers and was owner/operater of Hydratane of Athens until 1980. He served in several capacities of the Tennessee LP Gas Association and the National LP Gas Association. Being very committed and active in his community, he served on the Athens City Council from 1973 to 1981 during which time he served as Mayor for two terms. He also served as chairman of the McMinn Mental Health Society, was active in Little League Baseball and Midget League Football and was a former member of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, McMinn-Meigs Industrial Committee of 100, Athens Board of Zoning Appeals, Athens Area Planning Commission and on the Advisory Board of Tennessee Wesleyan College. He had been selected as Outstanding Jaycee of the State of Tennessee, Athens Young Man of the Year, recipient of the T.G. Tackett Memorial Award, “Butane-Propane News” Annual Award and Man of the Year for the City of Athens. Other memberships included Athens Kiwanis Club, Athens Jaycees and Toastmasters International. He was currently Chairman of the Board of McMinn County Rescue Squad and served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank and retired from BB&T Advisory Board. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served during the Korean War and was instrumental in the development of Athens’ Veterans Memorial Park and was also a member of American Legion Post No. 68 and the 278th Regimental Combat Group. He attended Westview Baptist Church and had served in many capacities of the church and was also a member of Gideon International. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Helen Pike Rodgers of Athens; three sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen R. and LeAnn Rodgers of Etowah, M. Douglas and Lisa M. Rodgers of Athens, and Philip B. and Betsy G. Rodgers of Madisonville; one daughter and son-in-law, Susan C. and Jack McCollister of Athens; one brother and sister-in-law, Carl “Ed” and Jane Rodgers of Decatur; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Betty J. Newman of Dayton, and Rosa Lee and Ray Goforth of Riceville; seven grandchildren, Jennifer, Bryan and Christopher Rodgers; Ehrick and Jordon Lamb, Katie and Melissa Rodgers and A.J. and Lauren McCollister; one great-grandchild, Dylan; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Monday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with Philip Rodgers, Chuck Redfern and the Rev. Don Bradford officiating. Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in McMinn Memory Gardens with military honors provided by Volunteer State Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Russell King, Jimmy Knox, Jeff Knox, Herschel Croft, Terry White, Bryant Rucker and Raymond Jackson. Honorary pallbearers will be employees and former employees of Hydratane of Athens. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday prior to the services at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Volunteer State Honor Guard, P.O. Box 20091, Knoxville, TN 37940; East Tennessee Veteran Honor Guard, 4708 Barbara Dr., Knoxville, TN 37918; or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or by calling 1-800-873-6983 Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home of Athens is in charge of arrangements |
An Editorial in the Daily Post Athenian says it well
This is from the June 11 2003 DPA
Bill Rodgers:
A man who lived
a good life
Bill Rodgers lived not the good life we hear about when
someone's successes are measured only by material
possessions. But, Bill Rodgers did live a good life. His was a
good life because his successes are the kind that can't be meas-
ured in a material way.
He passed away this past Saturday at age 70, leaving
behind a life of success and achievement.
His greatest success was the one he enjoyed the most -
being a husband and father. He and his wife, Helen, lived
almost a lifetime together, having been married for 51 years.
They raised their four children and then he,found a new way
to enjoy family success when he became first a grandfather
and then a great-grandfather. .
The foundation of the good life Bill Rodgers lived was built
on his religious and spiritual commitment. He attended
Westview Baptist Church and had served in many capacities
of the church and was also a member of Gideon International.
Acornerstone of his life was his fierce patriotism. That
he loved his country was evident to anyone who knew
him. A veteran of the Korean War, Mr. Rodgers understood the
sacrifices our military personnel make and after his own term
of service ended, he embarked on a lifelong mission to make
sure our veterans were never forgotten or taken for granted.
He was instrumental in the development of Athens' Veterans
Memorial Park, transforming it into a shining display of patri-
otism and appreciation for our local veterans.
When we drive around Athens today and see the dozens of
American flags lining our streets, you see a measure of the
good life Bill Rodgers lived. He worked to bring together all the
different entities involved in setting up and working with the
flag program.
He found success in the business world as the owner and
operator of Hydratane, a local propane supplier. He sold the
business in 1980 and "retired." While after that he didn't go
into the office every day, he continued working almost as hard.
But this time, it seemed he had a full-time job, as he worked
tirelessly to make his community a better place to live.
But his community involvement didn't just start when
he didn't have the day-to-day responsibilities of run-
ning a successful business. He had devoted himself to working
for the good of the entire community as a young man. He
believed in public service and was twice elected to the Athens
City Council, from 1973 to 1981, and served two terms as
mayor. He also had been a member of the Athens Board of
Zoning Appeals and Athens Area Planning Commission.
His love of sports and athletics showed as he served in a
variety of capacities in Little League Baseball and Midget
League Football.
He endeavored to help improve the local economy and pro-
mote business growth through his work with the Athens
Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the McMinn-Meigs
Industrial Committee of 100, an industrial recruitment effort
that is a forerunner of today's McMinn County Economic
Development Authority.
The list of organizations and people Bill &dgers touched
and influenced while living his good life can never really be
known. In fact, we know he often was never aware of all those
who benefited not just from his community involvement, but
also from simply knowing him. It seems he could always see
the good in people and managed to draw that out of them.
He was honored many times with awards earned
thanks to his business acumen and those rightly pre-
sented to him for his community efforts. He is one the few men
to have been presented with both the "Young Man of the Year
Award" and the J. Neal Ensminger "Man of the Year Award."
Yet, he was modest about his achievements. He simply
believed that all he did and accomplished was what he should
do.
This community will long remember Bill Rodgers not just
for all that he did for it, but also for the ever-present grin that
was on his face as he enjoyed the feeling of satisfaction that
can only be felt by those who truly live a good life. His good
works for this community will last forever.
When we remember Bill Rodgers, we'll think of how
fortunate we have been to witness a good man living a good life.