HENRY COUNTY – James Walter Rogers, 93, former Henry County Sheriff, passed away Thursday. Rogers was born in Stokes County, North Carolina on May 25, 1925. His life was dedicated to the service of others. He proudly served his country during 21 years of service with the United States Marine Corps. Rogers was a decorated veteran of WWII and the Korean Conflict where he fought in four major battles, including the Chosin Reservoir battle where temperatures reached 35 below zero. In addition to receiving three Presidential Citations, he was awarded many medals including the Bronze Star with Combat V and the Purple Heart for his valorous actions when he was wounded by machine gun fire during the Korean War. Rogers’ outstanding marksmanship skills earned him highly coveted positions on the Marine Corps Competition Rifle Team, as well as the Competition Pistol Team. In addition to winning over 200 trophies, he also won two gold medals and one silver during inter-service and divisional rifle competitions. Immediately following his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1964, Rogers joined the Henry County Sheriff’s Department when there were only 4 other deputies and a Sheriff assigned to Henry County. Rogers worked as a road deputy, investigator and later established the department’s first records system, which was highly praised by State and Federal officials. He was elected Sheriff in November of 1979 and completed three four-year terms until retiring on December 31, 1991. The Rogers family say they will be forever grateful to all of the many loyal employees and citizens who supported him and the department. Rogers was very active in local historical, civic and veterans groups. He served as a member of the Martinsville and Henry County Veteran’s Honor Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 52, American Legion Post 42, Sons of the American Revolution and the Marine Corps League Edward W. Richardson Detachment. In 1997 he was selected Veteran of the Year among all local veteran organizations. In 2009 he was honored as Henry County’s Veteran of the Year. Rogers was a Master Mason of the Piedmont Masonic Lodge No 152. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Fieldale-Collinsville Rescue Squad for 16 years. He was also a long- time member of Stone Memorial Christian Church where he served as a deacon and later was a charter member of Traditional Christian Church.
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