NASELLE – Doug Rogers was a husband and father, a coach and teacher, a counselor and semi-pro basketball player, a friend and the type of person you could trust with anything for his 80 years, the last 44 serving the Naselle and Ilwaco communities. On Sept. 6 he passed away suddenly and on Monday evening the two schools dedicated their volleyball match to Rogers.

Every player from both squads tearfully presented Lois Rogers, Doug’s wife of 50 years, with a rose, eventually forming a huge bouquet. A large gathering of relatives, friends and fans then heard Bill Marshall, volleyball guru and personal friend from Longview, say, “Every kid who played for Doug knew he cared dearly about them. He taught them to play with dignity, respect and honor.” Rob Dalton added, “Doug had the ability to remain calm no matter what. He built a great (volleyball) program at Naselle.”

Candy Johnson, varsity volleyball coach of Ilwaco, said, “Doug and I coached together 17 years. Even when he had his heart attacks in 1997 he would have Lois videotape the matches and then he’d review them and give me and the girls advice. He was a great coach, a great friend and a wonderful man. I was blessed to have worked with him.”

Kim Eaton, Naselle volleyball coach, said earlier in the day, “It was a privilege to play for Doug when I was in high school and even more of an honor to coach with him.” She played during Rogers’ first three years as varsity coach and later worked with him as an assistant for five more years. “He was soft spoken, caring and helped you with the little things. Many of the ways I coach I learned from Doug. He never gave up on any of his players or his friends. He was the absolute best.”

“Rog” was Naselle’s varsity volleyball coach from 1990 until 2003 and his teams finished as high as second in the state in 1998 and made four trips to the big dance in Cheney. Rogers had also coached varsity cross country, golf, football, basketball, track and softball during his career. Rogers had worked with student athletes from Naselle, Warrenton, Seaside and Astoria as a high school and club volleyball coach since the mid-1980s when he began as a middle school mentor at Rosburg.

When Roger’s assistant Candy Johnson, took the head coaching position at Ilwaco last season, Rogers said, “I couldn’t refuse when she asked me to help. She’s helped me so much that I wanted to repay the favor. I try to make each kid feel important. It’s fun to see them get better and better, a thrill to see them make progress.” Doug Rogers Jr. said, “After dad had those heart attacks in 1997 we were fortunate to have him for another 10 years.” Daughter Helen added, “We have so many positive memories.”

It took a couple of turns in his life before Rogers came to be a coach. He grew up in rural Waukesha, Wis., and graduated from high school in 1945 as an all-conference basketball player. The man with the mean hook shot with both hands led his high school team to the consolation championship his senior year and was on the state title team his junior season. “I would have probably gone off to work somewhere, but V.B. Vye (a local cattleman) talked to the coaches at the University of Wisconsin and got me to go to college.”

Rogers lettered in basketball four years at Wisconsin and was captain his senior season. He then played AAU basketball for Caterpillar Tractor, a team close to the talent level of fledgling NBA squads in 1950. Rogers used his degree in animal husbandry to become a buyer for Oscar Mayer. While traveling with the Caterpillar team he visited California and decided to go west. He worked with various veterinarians in the Portland area. On Sept. 21, 1956, he married wife Lois and they had four children: Bobbi Caton, Helen Beasley, Doug Rogers Jr. and Paula Rogers.

After stints in West Virginia, where Lois grew up, and New Mexico, he earned a degree in education. A teaching job in Salmon, Idaho, fell through, but Rogers got the call from Naselle High School in 1963 to become their science teacher. Following a two-year hiatus as varsity hoops coach in Ridgefield he returned to Naselle Youth Camp as a counselor. He did that for nine years and then taught mathematics at NYC and NHS for many faithful years until his heart problems made him choose to retire from teaching in 1997.

“Now I try to go with the flow,” the easy-going and patient Rogers said recently. “I enjoy renewing the many friendships I have made when I go to the various gyms. I’m glad I am again coaching at Ilwaco. We have kids who want to learn.”

Sitting on a stool Sept. 4 Rogers addressed the Ilwaco varsity volleyball team after a loss in the final game he ever coached by saying, “We had some nice reactions to the ball tonight, but our defensive coverage as a team needs to improve.” He could have chastised a couple of players for skipping practice the Friday before, but instead chose the high road by giving a compliment first, then dealing with the issue of young people being responsible.

Rogers, the coach and the man, was that kind of person. As one long-time friend said and as hundreds in attendance Monday night echoed, “You never have enough friends like Doug in your life and when they pass they are always missed.” A volleyball signed by members of both teams was presented to his family.