'Ralph B. Rogers' (born
New York City USA 18 December
1909-
1997) was an
American industrialist,
philanthropist and
PBS executive, called the "Founding Father of the Public Broadcasting Service."
He was born in
Boston and was educated at
Northeastern University. As a businessman, Rogers worked for or ran many industrial firms, including
Cummins Diesel Engine,
Edwards Company,
Hill and Rogers Diesel and Aircraft,
Armstrong Rubber Export, and
Rogers International.
In
1950, he started work with
Texas Industries in
Dallas and by
1951 he was chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer of this company. It became a Fortune 500 company with many interests but remains focused on cement production.
Rogers became civically and politically active in the
1960s. In 1972, he is credited with saving the
Public Broadcasting System during the
Nixon Administration. He later co-founded the
Children's Television Workshop, and became a significant philanthropist, primarily in the
Dallas area.
External links
★
Ralph Rogers Society of the Friends of KERA
★
NPBA - Papers of Ralph B. Rogers - UM Libraries Papers at the
University of Maryland, College Park