Joe M. Rogers, 75, born Nov. 12, 1933 in Bay Minette, died Feb. 2, 2009 in Nashville, Tenn., after battling cancer.
Rodgers grew up in Montgomery and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Alabama. He served three years in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Rogers started his own construction company, Joe M. Rogers & Associates Inc., in 1966 and by 1970, was construction 19 hospitals for HCA. By 1979, the company had built more than 200, reporting that it had completed more than $120 millin in contracted work in the prior year.
After suffering a heart attack in 1977, he sold a majority stake in the construction company, which continued to bear his name, and moved into real estate development while also founding a merchant banking firm, Rodgers Capital Group P.O. High-profile real estate projects in which he was involved included Vanderbilt Plaze and Third National Bank building — now the Fifth Third Center — at Fifth Avenue and Church Street downtown Nashville.
In 1976, he became an early backer of former California Gov. Ronald Reagan’s candidacy for president. He served as Tennessee finance chairman for Reagan’s primary campaign against President Gerald Ford.
He then served as finance chairman of the Republican Natiaonal Committee from 1978 to 1980. After Reagan took office in 1981, he appointed Rodgers to the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. He continued to raise funds for a variety of GOP-related causes and in 1984 he served as finance chief for the Reagan-Bush re-election campaign.
In 1985, Reagan appointed Rodgers U.S. Ambassador to France for a four-year term. French President Francois Mitterand personally awarded Rodgers the rank of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor.
In 1991, Rodgers became chairman and acting CEO of Berlitz International Inc.
Rodgers held several public-company board seats at various times over the past two decade. He was a diurector of AMR Corp. (parent of American Airlines), Gaylor Entertainment Co., Thomas Nelson Inc., Tractor Supply Co., Gryphon Holdings Inc., and Willis Corroon PLC.
He was involved with civil, charitable and religious organizations, including the Salvation Army, the Middle Tennessee Council of Boy Scouts of America and the Followship of Christian Athletes.
Rodgers was involved with a number of conservative causes. In the 1990s, he served as chairman of the Tennessee Family Institute, an affiliate of Focus on the Family. He also became chairman of Shepherd Financial Services Inc., a mutual fund group that screened out companies thought to support abortion, pornography, gay rights and other issues opposed by conservatives.
In 2008, Rodgers served as fundraising co-chair for the presidential campaign of Republican former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.
Among honors bestowed on Rodgers were honorary degrees from the University of Alabama, the University of the South and Rhodes College. he received the National Exchange Club American Enterprise Award and in 2000 was named one of nine “Leaders of the Century” by Associated Builders and Contractors. From 1989 to 1999 he held the Jennings A. Jones Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise at Middle Tennessee State University.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Helen Martin “Honey” Rodgers; daughter, Jan Rodgers (Bob) Dale; and son, Mason (Kelli) Rodgers; and eight grandchildren.
Private burial was held, followed by visitation and a memorial service Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Rodgers/Dale Family Foundation for support of Christian organizations, P.O. Box 158838, Nashville, TN 37215.
