Ralph B. Rogers*

Born in 1909 in Boston, Ralph Rogers had to work at age 10 because of his father's financial reverses. He operated a paper route and sold papers on streetcars. He graduated from the Boston Latin School, where he excelled as a debater. Until his graduation, he worked after school and on weekends for his father, keeping the books, preparing bills, taking dictation, and packing and shipping orders.

Upon graduation, he became an office boy for City Central Corp., earning $10 a week. He later worked in the personal finance business and attended Northeastern University Law School at night. Rogers was instrumental in the introduction of the high-speed diesel engine and subsequently bought and operated companies that manufactured diesel engines, motorcycles, and power lawn mowers.

During World War II, Rogers contracted rheumatic fever and discovered during his 14 months of fighting the disease that it was responsible for killing more children than all other children's diseases combined. He headed a research project that discovered the specific infection. In turn, the advent of sulfur drugs and penicillin made it possible to prevent rheumatic fever. This became his first achievement in medical science.

After the war ended, Rogers sold his privately owned companies and moved to Texas, where in 1950 he created Kenilworth Corporation, a private investment firm that eventually became Texas Industries, Inc.

Rogers retired in 1975, but kept active with pro bono activities. He co-founded the Children's Television Workshop, creator of Sesame Street, and chaired the Public Broadcasting Service from 1973 to 1979.