Samuel H. Rogers, Jr.'s Obituary
Samuel Hamilton Rogers, Jr., age 93, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2015 at Spring Arbor of Leesburg. Along with his wife of 68 years, Carolyn, who survives him, he raised and raced Thoroughbred horses from his White Oaks Farm in Leesburg, VA for over half a century. His love of horse racing was inspired by his father’s and grandfather’s excitement for the sport.
He was born to Samuel H. Rogers and Willa A. Rogers and was raised in Washington, D.C. and Hamilton, VA, splitting time between the two localities along with his deceased brothers, Joseph M. Rogers, M.D. and Howard C. Rogers II and also his surviving brother, Richard A. Rogers, of Shelburne Glebe, Hamilton, VA. He attended Central High School in the District and later the University Of Maryland School Of Engineering. As a Junior in ROTC, he was called to active Army duty in 1943, and after Officer Candidate School, was sent to Europe as a 1st Lieutenant in the 42nd Infantry Division.
Upon being honorably discharged from active duty, he started work with the family grain milling business. He sold dairy feed throughout Loudoun and the D.C. area and then rose through various positions at the Wilkins-Rogers Milling Company to the post of President and Chairman of the Board. The business, while located in Georgetown, along the Potomac River, made wheat flour, corn meal and prepared batter and baking mixes. In 1973 it was moved to Ellicott City, MD, where today it operates as Wilkins Rogers Mills with divisions in Pennsylvania.
Sam was very active in various national milling associations and the Miller’s Mutual Insurance Company, as well as being on additional boards at various banks, Capitol Hill Hospital and the Board of Trustees of Leesburg United Methodist Church. He is a life member of the Maryland Terrapin Club and was a long time member of the Rotary Club.
Sam and Carolyn were constant consignors of Thoroughbred horses at various sales around the country for over 57 years and were tied as the longest continuous consignors to the Fasig-Tipton, Inc. Summer Yearling Sales in Saratoga Springs, NY. They sold numerous stakes-winners, including champion Sharp Cat. They also enjoyed racing their homebred horses that included many stakes-winners. He was a member of the Virginia, Maryland and Florida Thoroughbred breeders’ associations as well as the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
Mr. Rogers is survived by his wife and three children, Carolyn R. Rainbow (William A. T. Rainbow), Acorn Farm, Ocala, FL, Susan R. Parks (Kenneth F. Parks), Leesburg, VA and Samuel H. Rogers III (Matthew L. Hamblet), Jefferson, MD. The Rogers have four grandchildren - Shelley P. Shen, Catherine R. Rainbow, MD, William A. T. "Bo" Rainbow, DVM and Samuel S. Parks – and two great-grandchildren.
The Rogers family would like to thank the wonderful and caring individuals on the staffs of Spring Arbor of Leesburg, Heritage Hall and Capital Caring for their compassionate and dedicated care in the last months of his life.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, November 5th, 2015 at 1 PM at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175. See www.loudounfuneralchapel.com for further information.
Interment in Union Cemetery is private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Thoroughbred Charities of America, Post Office Box 910668, Lexington, KY 40591 www.tca.org
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