Bowl Season Hall of Fame
Jimmy Rogers Jr. was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, where he became deeply integrated into the sports and civic culture of his hometown. He attended Dudley School and graduated from El Paso High School in 1952 as Student Body President, continuing his leadership as senior class president at Southern Methodist University, where he also managed the football team and graduated with honors in 1956.
Following his graduation, Rogers joined the United States Air Force, earning commendation medals from both the Air Force and the Army for his exemplary service as a Second Lieutenant stationed in Alaska and later in San Francisco. During this time, he met JoAnne “Jody” Sue McArt, whom he married in 1959. The couple soon settled in El Paso, where Jimmy joined the family firm, Rogers & Belding Insurance and Real Estate. Under his leadership, the agency grew into one of the Southwest’s leading independent insurance firms.
Rogers's true legacy is most evident in his lifelong commitment to the community, particularly to the Sun Bowl. His father was one of the founding board members in 1934, so it was only natural for "Mr. Sun Bowl" to continue this tradition. Rogers served on the Sun Bowl Association Board for over 50 years. He held the presidency in 1970 and later received the title of Chair Emeritus for his decades of dedication to the committee.
One of Rogers's most notable contributions was securing national television coverage for the game. He played a crucial role in partnering with CBS, which developed into the longest consecutive bowl broadcast partnership in college football, lasting 57 years as of 2025. Additionally, he was instrumental in the expansion of the stadium, starting with the 15,000-seat Kidd Field and leading to the construction of Sun Bowl Stadium in 1963. He then oversaw the University of Texas System-funded expansion that was completed in 1983.
Jimmy’s innovation extended to finance, where he helped establish the industry’s first-ever bowl title sponsorship with John Hancock in 1986, followed by deals with Norwest, Wells Fargo, Helen of Troy, Hyundai, and Kellogg’s. Beyond sponsorships, he championed the passage of a car rental tax in 1997 that provided crucial financial stability for the Sun Bowl, a move often cited as vital to the bowl’s survival and success.
His impact wasn’t limited to the gridiron. Rogers held leadership positions in the UTEP Touchdown Club and chaired the UTEP Athletic Advisory Committee, and was inducted into the El Paso Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1999, he was honored as a “Legend of the Sun Bowl,” and in 2009, he received the Bud Dudley Bowl Executive Award for outstanding contributions to college football.
Beyond his contributions to sports, Rogers was a dedicated civic leader. He served on the board of Hospitals of Providence for over three decades, eventually becoming Chairman Emeritus, and he played a key role in developing the Eastside campus. His commitment to the community extended to various organizations, including the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, El Paso Convention & Visitors Bureau, First Presbyterian Church Foundation, UTEP Development Board, El Paso Sports Commission, and the Holocaust Museum, as well as several financial institutions and real estate boards.
Rogers received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the City of El Paso’s Conquistador Award in 1962 and 1988, the County’s Del Norte Award in 2002, the LULAC Humanitarian Award, the Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty Award, Realtor of the Year, the Jaycees’ Outstanding Young Man Award, the Hospitality Greatness Award, the Rotary Distinguished Service Award, and he was inducted into the El Paso Business Hall of Fame in 2007.
At his core, Jimmy was a devoted family man. He and Jody cherished horseback rides with their children and enjoyed skiing trips together, with Jimmy continuing to ski into his 80s. They also loved spending time at their cabin in Cloudcroft.
Jimmy Rogers Jr. passed away in El Paso on September 24, 2023, at the age of 89. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister. He is survived by his wife, Jody; his sons, Jim III, Doug, and Mike; along with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a loving extended family. His legacy of leadership, generosity, and community spirit remains deeply ingrained in El Paso and the enduring tradition of the Sun Bowl.
