OCR Text |
Show Pat Rogers Retires from Utah Parks Helm Following 21 Years of Service Retirement of W. P. "Pat" Rogers, manager of the Utah Parks Company, a Union Pacific Railroad subsidiary, was announced today, to become effective May 1. A native of Nortonville, Kan., Rogers begrn his 37-year career in railroad's food and hotel operations in 1920 when he was hired as a hotel clerk at Green River, Wyo. From 1920 to 1936 he managed U. P. restaurant and hotel facilities facil-ities in Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming and Zion and Grand Canvon national parks. From 1920 to 1926 Mr. Rogers was manager of all of the Union Pacific eating houses from Og-den Og-den to Omaha. In 1926 he and Mrs. Rogers came to Zion Lodge, when the facilities were about half completed. He managed the Lodge for two seasons and Mrs. Rogers acted as post mistress. In 1928 they were transferred to Grand Qanyon Lodge In the same c? parity. In those days he acted as lodge manager in the summer months and returned to the railroad as manager of eating houses, dining car inspector inspec-tor for three years and In 1924 was a member of the crew of the first streamline train on exhibl-tion exhibl-tion throughout the country. Named Superintendent Rogers was appointed superintendent super-intendent of Utah Parks Company Com-pany operation In 1936 and managed man-aged the operations until his retirement. re-tirement. The company operates all hotel and lodge facilities In Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon (North Rim) National Parks, Cedar Breaks National Monument, the Hotel El Esca-lante Esca-lante In Cedar City and bus transportation service In the na. tional parks. From 1938 to 1952 he was general gen-eral manager of Union Pacific's world-famous resort at Sun Valley, Val-ley, Idaho, in addition to his management of the park facilities. facili-ties. Enthusiastic Supporter During his service with Utah Parks Company Mr. Rogers has been an enthusiastic supporter of Cedar City and all its activities. He has generously supported all community activities, whether church, school or civic activity, and has been particularly generous gen-erous In .his support of youth activities and will long be remember re-member by thousands of young people with whom he has come in contact and for whom he has has done so much. His support of adult programs through the Chamber of Commerce, other civic groups, and such organizations organiza-tions as the Southern Utah Live-stock Live-stock Show Association has contributed con-tributed much to thA success of many community activities. Recognized for Service In recognition of this fine ser-vice ser-vice the Chamber of Commerce has adopted him as a life member mem-ber of that organization, and the livestock show group presented him with a lovely momento. Mrs. Rogers has been extensively exten-sively entertained by ladies of the community. During his long career In resort re-sort operations Mr. Rogers has gained a wide, personal acquaintance ac-quaintance with many prominent promin-ent guests, but has always retained re-tained his close personal friendship friend-ship for the hundreds of young people In his employ, and with whom he has come In contact In youth activity progams, as well as for his many friends In Cedar City and surrounding territory. ter-ritory. Special Recognition One of the high points In his career came In 1955 when he was honored by Pope Plus XII by being made a Knight of the Order Or-der of St. Gregory, which was conferred at Cedar City. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers Intend to live In Santa Fe, New Mexico, for the next three months, during which time, he says, "we will be thinking strongly of returning to Cedar City to make our home, as Cedar City Is the only place we were ever able to call home, and I know we will not find any more lovable people than in this wonderful community." Mr. Rogers' successor as manager man-ager of the company facilities has not been announced. |