William Griffith Rogers, better known as Rog, a cherished husband, loving father and grandfather, trusted brother, cousin and friend, and a dedicated public servant to all, peacefully passed away at his home in Bartonville, Texas, on January 17, 2024. He was surrounded by his steadfast family; his beloved wife, sons, daughters, grandchildren, and one of his very dearest and best friends.
Born on July 12th, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan, to William Edward and Eulalla Louise Griffith Rogers, who preceded him in death. Rog was a sociable and gregarious youngster with a great sense of humor and the ability to befriend all. He was actively involved in the Swim Club, Little League Softball, Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol and DeMolay. Although sometimes mischievous, he was quite mature for his age, as when his parents allowed him to drive cross country in his sister’s car from California to Michigan at the age of 17 with his best friend Kenneth Massey, who was only 16. He graduated from North Farmington High School, Michigan, in 1974, where he was an ardent member of the high school choir and band where he mastered the tympani, which began his deep-rooted passion for the musical arts. At the age of 20, he met the love of his life, Theresa Maria Rizza, and married his bride on October 14, 1978. They had a huge Italian wedding and reception. Rog always loved to celebrate at her Italian family gatherings along with her parents Rosato and Maria Rizza, who adored Rog as well. Together, they have three fun-loving sons, William Ross, Kenneth Daniel, and Eric Anthony, and were blessed to witness his boys fall in love and marry their beautiful wives, Heather, Ashley, and Kristin. His adoration and joy deepened when his precious grandchildren William Michael and Brooklyn Grace were born. He was a father figure to many, but we especially cannot leave out his high school exchange student from Thailand, his son Pianwit Kitaya-apinan. During their marriage, they traveled to many historical parts of the US and the world, Europe, the UK, Greece, Israel, South Korea, the Caribbean and Belize, to name a few; their ideal dream, though cut short, was to explore every state and country.
Throughout his entire career, Rog’s passion was to work as a first responder, first at the age of 18 as an EMT/Firefighter in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan; he was then valedictorian of his Advanced Paramedic Certification training class and worked at Huron Valley Ambulance, he delivered several babies and was also awarded a lifesaving medal of Valor. He moved to Dallas, Texas, and worked at UTSW Medical School as a Paramedic Instructor. His final vocational path was a police officer, police instructor, hostage negotiator, and was the eldest member of the scuba dive rescue team. Rog was likewise valedictorian of his Police Academy and held the ranks of Deputy, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Investigator and Vice Commander of the Narcotics Task Force with the Denton County Sheriff’s Office, Denton County Constables and with Collin College Police Department. Although he received many accolades throughout his career, his most prized “award” was the Order of the Toll House Cookie Medal which he was bestowed after he consoled a family with two young children who were in a parking garage in the middle of the night during a tornado warning. The family came back at 2am that same night with warm cookies and a big hug. He said it made the trying years of public service all worthwhile. Rog was most proud when he fulfilled one of his greatest career accomplishments of his life from 2005-2006 when he worked for the Department of Justice in Baghdad and Taji, Iraq, as an International Police Advisor and Director of International Police Training where he received an honorary doctorate degree from the Iraqi government. Rog was awarded a Medal of Bravery for his life-saving actions of a multitude of Iraqi police cadets during an insurgent bombing. During his service in Taji, Iraq, he had the extraordinary privilege of personally promoting his son Kenny, who was serving in the US Army there at the same time. Rog was so very proud of all his sons (and glad that they are all taller than him); Ross, who followed in his footsteps as a police investigator; Kenny, who is an EMS helicopter pilot; and Eric, who travels the world with various artists as a sound engineer. He loved his daughters-in-law as if they were his own, and he would dance in the grocery store aisles to “Jump In the Line” with his granddaughter to keep her entertained. Rog most of all treasured and adored his wife Theresa, he always encouraged her and stood by her side, especially during illness, doctor schedules, surgeries and cancer treatments. He loved her deeply and she will dearly miss their weekly date nights, going to church, musicals, concerts (everything from Pavarotti to Neil Diamond to Queen), exploring the streets of ancient cities, listening to the waves on the beach, walking hand in hand everywhere they went, his cooking and handyman skills, and watching TV and movies together; especially Mel Brooks comedies, action and drama shows as well as old fashion Perry Mason, Adam 12 and Emergency.
During his 50 years of public service, Rog proudly championed his family and community in many other ways. He was fully involved in his son’s Boy Scouts, JROTC, band, theater, martial arts, all kinds of little league sports, and especially being their biggest encourager and supporter in their careers as adults. He held elected positions in Collin, Denton, and Kaufman counties and served in numerous organizations including: The Civil Air Patrol, Boy Scouts, Denton GOP, Emmaus Community, local church, community choirs, theatre groups, and as a PTSD Post Critical Incident Responder. He was a Master Mason with The Masonic Lodge.
Sadly, brain cancer took Rog’s fruitful life shortly after he retired from the police department. Rog leaves behind the love of his life, his devoted wife Theresa, who even after 45 years of marriage, he still introduced her as his beautiful bride; his greatest blessings sons Ross, Kenny, and Eric; daughters Heather, Ashley, and Kristin; grandchildren Mikey and Brooklyn; his doting sister Leslie Louise and husband Rick; brother Paul and wife Kathy; nieces and nephews Catherine, Jamie, Liz, Katie, and Ben; his first cousins the Truax’s; many other loving relatives; and last but not least, treasured life time friends who are more like immediate family Ken Massey, Greg Leveling, Jim Hubanks, Van Maples, his Iraqi language translator Aida Al Sahrawi who he sponsored as a refugee to the US, and numerous more.
Some of Rog’s favorite quotes and creed were:
Harrumph!; Of course you realize this means war; You have chosen wisely; Mongo only pawn in game of life; I know it’s been soup but what is it now; Badges, we don’t need no stinkin’ badges; If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything; How did we manage to put man on the moon before we thought to put wheels on our luggage; I don’t know, I’m making this up as I go; Live like you were dying; I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque; Be men of honor, give more than you take, revere your creator, love deeply, and proudly stand next to the woman who stands next to you.
Creed of the Lone Ranger:
I Believe…
That to have a friend, a man must be one. That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world. That God put the firewood there but that every man must gather and light it himself. In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right. That a man should make the most of what equipment he has. That 'This government, of the people, by the people and for the people' shall live always. That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number. That sooner or later ... somewhere ... somehow ... we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken. That all things change but truth, and that truth alone, lives on forever.
As a tribute to his immense love of space travel, from the time he was a child, his mother kept him home from school to watch all the Apollo launches, he continued the tradition by keeping his children home from school to watch the launch of the Space Shuttles. Rog always desired somehow to be part of the space program. He tried to enlist in the Air Force but did not meet height requirements. Rog faithfully watched every rocket launch, landing and space event throughout his life, even when he was terminally ill. Although our family took several trips to NASA, and to Cape Canaveral to view launches, they were always delayed, and we were never able to witness one in person. Rog was beyond thrilled to learn of the Celestis Memorial Spaceflights and my solemn promise to the love of my life, my partner and soulmate before his passing is that I would see to it that one day, he would be on an awe-inspiring spaceflight to the moon. Rog’s Christian faith was rock solid. He endeavored to be a noble sheepdog, to walk the walk and talk the talk, to love richly, and to live a life to be worthy, he was abundantly blessed by God’s munificent love and grace. He believed in God’s marvelous works and of life eternal. It is with awe and tears that we are able to witness this event of our loved one blasting off of this magnificent earth and traveling through God’s creation to a resting place that few have placed foot on. We know Rog is in heaven chatting and singing with the angels, but he also will joyfully be on the moon, watching over his entire family and friends all the days of our lives. We will always be able to look up to the sky and smile because he is not only in heaven, but forever enshrined there on that celestial body.
You are forever loved in your place among the stars!
