Richard C. Rogers '58
To say the Rev. Richard C. "Dick" Rogers '58 has a passion for ministry is an understatement. He has served as pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Munster, Ind. for more than 28 years, turning it into one of the most successful in the denomination. He doubled its size, led them through three successful building expansions, sent seven members to seminary and increased the operating budget ten-fold. Though he hasn't yet fully retired, seeing the need for a continuity of leadership at Westminster, Rogers continues to serve as the church's co-pastor.
His calling didn't stop with the church. Rogers volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, having founded the NW Indiana chapter, served as president for 10 years and built 43 houses. The chapter now has several full-time staff and has built and operates a ReStore. Rogers now serves on the executive committee. In 2006, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Habitat in recognition of outstanding and dedicated service. The NW Indiana chapter created the "Richard C. Rogers Achievement Award," given annually to the person who contributed the most to the chapter. McCormick Seminary gave him its Distinguished Ministry Award.
In the 1980's Rogers played a large part in bringing affordable counseling to the area with the Samaritan Center Counseling Service, where clients pay what they can afford on a sliding scale. He offered space at the church and now the organization has several offices in churches throughout the area, providing highly trained Christian counselors to help people with serious issues.
Rogers also had a taste for adventure. He sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with two other seminary students after a year of study at Edinburgh University in Scotland. The late Hanover historian, Frank Baker, wrote about Rogers' adventure in his book, "More Glimpses of Hanover's Past, 1827-1988." For 32 years, he organized and led two-week summer bicycle trips that covered 500-800 miles.
A member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, Rogers' connection to Hanover began with his father, Henry '20, who served on the College's Board of Trustees and founded the Alumni Achievement Award.