Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

C.M. 'Pod' Rogers Jr.

C.M. 'Pod' Rogers Jr., 73, of Hope died Thursday, July 9, 1998, at Medical Park Hospital in Hope.

Mr. Rogers was born August 27, 1925, in Hope to C.M. 'Lum' Rogers and Laure Ames Rogers. He was a self-employed businessman and former Newspaper manager and later co-owner of the Hope Star. He was a member and Sunday school teacher of the First Baptist Church in Hope and served as a R.A. Director. He designed the banner for the Arkansas Travelers games and revived the Hope Watermelon Festival in 1977. For 33 years he took melons to the Miss Arkansas Pageant and has been referred to as 'Hope's Goodwill Ambassador', 'One-man Chamber of Commerce', and Pod Rogers World's Greatest Watermelon Promoter.' He and his wife, Annette, were married for 52 years. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Myrtis Gleghorn, Hazel Duckett and Lois Mae Purtell and by one brother, Doyle Rogers.

Survivors include his wife, Annette Amonette Rogers of Hope; two sons, Doug Rogers of Magnolia and Brad Rogers of Dallas, Texas; and two grandchildren, Drew Rogers and Ryan Rogers of Magnolia.

Funeral services were Sunday, July 12, at First Baptist Church in Hope with Rev. Stan Parris and Rev. Earl Cumbie officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery in Hope under the direction of Brazzel-Oakcrest Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church or Charitable Christian Medical Clinic, 315 South Main, Hope, AR 71801.