Everyone who met Don Rogers was impressed with his love for the community, his sense of humor and his dedication to helping others. It was what people admired about him and why more than five years after his death, Rogers is still fondly remembered in Windham.
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| World War II veteran Don Rogers of Windham died in 2020 but before his passing, the American Legion Post 148 chose to honor him by renaming its annual student scholarship program or him and it funds two scholarships for local students through a special dinner every July. This year's dinner will be at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 19 at the Windham Veterans Center. FILE PHOTO |
Rogers was born Sept. 21, 1925, and lived most of his life in Windham Center. He served in the Army Air Corps and trained to be a fighter pilot before World War II ended in August 1945. He returned to Windham and worked for his father, M. L. Rogers, as a construction equipment operator in town. In 1954, he married Norma Kimball, and they raised two sons, Donald Scott Rogers, and Dale K. Rogers, in Windham.
Friends and family say that Rogers loved sports and athletics, and played baseball, basketball, track, swimming, and horseshoes. Through the years, he formed a local basketball team and supplied uniforms for the players. He also coached Little League baseball for Windham children for many years.
Being active in the community was something Rogers embraced. He belonged to the Presumpscot Lodge #70 of Masons Scottish Rite, the WHS Alumni Association and the Windham Historical Society. Rogers joined American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 in 1947 and served as Post Commander on four different occasions including 1965-66, 1968-69, 1972-77, and 1979-80.
“His father Maurice was one of the original Post 148 founders in 1938, and his brother, Wayne, was also a member,” said Legion Post 148 Adjutant David Tanguay. “Don believed in our youth. As the Post Commander, he presented students each year with the Legion School Leadership Award. I was a recipient in 1965 and continue to cherish that award.”
In 2019, Legion members chose to honor Rogers by renaming their annual student scholarship program for him and funds the scholarships through a special dinner held at the Windham Veterans Center every year in July.
“The scholarship is now coupled with the Legion award from a fundraiser and dinner, and I think he would be humbled by the honor that it is named after him.” Tanguay said. “Don could light up a room with his stories and one-liners. Don was a prankster and loved a good laugh.”
This year’s annual Don Rogers Scholarship Dinner will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 19 with all proceeds from the meal to be used to help local graduating students, one male and one female, to pursue their dreams of higher education.
The popular dinner has become a favorite mid-summer tradition for many families in Windham, and organizers are hoping to raise at least $1,400 through this fundraiser for the scholarships. The meal is an old-fashioned bean supper.
A requested donation of $15 is asked and there will also be a 50/50 drawing and an American Legion Auxiliary homemade pie auction to benefit the scholarship program. Children under 12 will be admitted for free and additional donations for the scholarships will be welcomed.
This year’s American Legion Leadership Award/Commander Don Rogers Scholarships were presented to 2025 Windham High School graduates Ethan Fletcher and Addison Profenno. Fletcher will attend Northeastern University at the Boston Campus to study Mechanical Engineering this fall, while Profenno will attend Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts to study nursing.
For those who wish to donate to the Don Rogers Scholarship program but will not be able to attend the dinner, contributions can be sent to the Don Rogers Scholarship at: Post 148-Scholarship, PO Box 1776, Windham, Maine 04062. <
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