I was surprised to hear from Roger. He told me that he had been in the hospital up in Wichita for a few days. But he was excited about changing rooms and starting physical therapy. Sadly a few days later we received word that he had passed. Roger had been one of the weekly columnists in the Rural Messenger for many years. We had even hosted a book signing for him, when his second book came out.
Roger had written several books and was near completion on a current book. He had written Eccentric Kansas, Kansas Oddities, Cowboys, Plowboys and Country Folk and True Tales of Kansas. While some of you may be familiar with his books, most of you are familiar with his weekly column.
Last December Cartoonist Bryan Clark presented us with a cartoon depiction of all the writers in the paper. Roger was in the back on a horse rearing up with an American Flag. While Roger might not have been able to ride a horse, and gallop around with a waving flag, I did think that was how Roger envisioned himself. He didn’t really care what anyone thought of his opinions and ideas. For that I will always admire him.
Thank you to Roger for his friendship and writing contributions. Roger had one of our most read columns and will be missed. Because of Roger so many Kansas stories will go on living as a result of him gathering them and putting them together in his books.
Anita Stuckey,
Jennifer Long
and Tammie Hoeme
