Glory Whittaker and Linda Rogers Wiley. Both are Sandpoint High Class of 1975 graduates and retired educators. Linda served as a Catholic school principal in the Los Angeles area while Glory spent her career as a speech therapist in Alaska and Sandpoint.

The final score wasn't exactly what we all wanted at Les Rogers Gym last night, but the rest of the time spent when Willie's players took on the Lewiston Bengals was filled with fast ball action, fun, familiar faces and even an exhilarating moment of family history for one of the fans.

Linda Rogers Wiley and her longtime friend and classmate Glory Whittaker came to the game. Having known Willie since he was born, they were excited to watch him coach.

Before the game, while balls were bouncing or flying in the air as the Bulldog varsity warmed up, Glory and Linda braved the action to stand by near some large red letters on the wall, letting everyone who comes to the gym that it's named for Linda's father Les Rogers.

For decades, as he raised his family and managed and owned grocery stores, Les was a well-known, generous and beloved supporter of Sandpoint athletics.

In fact, this morning I found the speech I wrote a while back when the gym was dedicated to Les. Note: Disregard the spacing. Just enjoy the words.

Les Rogers Gymnasium Dedication

January 28, 2003

by Marianne Love

I’ve known the Rogers family since the 1950s when all us little Catholic kids had to go to Sister School for two weeks every summer. Les’ niece, JoAnn, was one of my classmates at St. Joseph’s where nuns from Coeur d’Alene tried to make angels out of us hooligans. I’ve also known another niece, Paula Greenleaf, forever because she’s a classmate and friend of my older brother. Over the years, I’ve known many of Les’ siblings and have enjoyed my occasional visits with his wife Pat.

I’ve even taught Rogers kids. In fact, Les’ nephew Mike sat in first period English class on my first day as a full-time teacher at Sandpoint High School. That was a LONG time ago. His nephew Johnny also occupied a seat in my classroom at school and went through my husband’s Boy Scout troop outside of school.

Over the years came others, including Marty Patrick, another niece, and even some of Les’ four daughters Carol, Linda, Francie and Leslie. Just this past year, I worked with another generation of the Rogers clan when, in my last full year of teaching at Sandpoint High School, Mike Rogers’ daughter Katie sat in my first period English class. Throughout my lifetime, the Rogers family members have been wonderful citizens and contributors to this community. Many have served as dedicated educators both in Sandpoint and throughout the West.

To all the Rogers family here tonight, I extend my deepest condolences.

As a teacher and longtime Sandpoint resident, I had the good fortune to know Les through my church, through shopping at his grocery stores, through our dealings in the teacher-parent relationship, through 4-H activities, and especially as an adviser for many SHS organizations.

When you advise youth organizations like 4-H, Drill Team, yearbook, and such, you learn really fast how to become a beggar.

And as a beggar looking for handouts to support your club’s activities, you learn really quickly where to go and where not to go. Your short list always includes the folks in town with the softest and the biggest hearts. You knew they were good for a generous donation.

Les Rogers was always at the top of my short list. Les was a Bulldog through and through; he knew how to bark at you when you came asking, and he always played a little game of hard to get. He’d keep on working at whatever he was doing and make you think you were bothering him.

“Whaddya up to now?” or “Whaddya need?” he’d say.

You’d plead your case, giving all the reasons this was an important project. When he’d heard enough, he may even cut you off in mid-sentence and send you to whoever wrote the checks.

When I heard that Les had died, I worried that the many new residents in this community would not appreciate what a loss his death was to the Sandpoint humanitarian spirit.

So, I wrote a letter to the paper, calling him a “giant of generosity.” In the following days, I found it comforting to learn that everyone who knew Les had the same concerns about keeping this man’s memory alive. And when I heard about the plan to name Bulldog Gym after this humble local hero, my worries evaporated. What a magnificent tribute to a truly deserving human being!

In closing, I think when it came to giving, Les Rogers was poorly named because instead of doing “less,” he almost always gave much “more” than anyone could ever be expected to do. And so, to all of us----especially all the young people who benefit so often from behind-the-scenes support from people like Les---let’s remember this special night and this genuine giant of generosity. In the future, every time we see his name while walking into this gymnasium, let’s think about his example and do our part to follow his footsteps of quiet giving toward others.

💚💙💛💜

After the game, I snapped this shot of Glory and Linda with their SHS government teacher, Terry Iverson.

Below: our group of Willie and Debbie fans. Some are associated with the food bank, some of "outlaws" and others are just great friends.

A good time was had by all, and I just want to say, as a proud mom, how much the fan support is appreciated. Thanks to all.

While we were at the game in Sandpoint, Annie attended a Seahawks rally in Seattle where she met former Seahawk Gary Gilliam.

Annie said that the band and dancers came to the rally on an old ferry.

"It was pretty cool," she added.

Bill and Willie enjoying some visiting before the game.

Below: the SHS dance team at halftime.

I met and razzed this player from the JV team just briefly last night.

****

Below: when we learned that Jetta, on the right, will be attending the University of Idaho to major in forestry, I thought a photo of her with the retired forester would be neat.

Besides, Bill likes to follow Jetta who has played varsity basketball and who is among the highest ranked javelin throwers in the nation.

Jetta suffered a knee injury in a game before Christmas, and she'll have to put her athletic pursuits on hold for a while.

Neat young lady AND her proud mom Nikki was one of my students.