James "Jim" Rogers grew up on a farm in Madison, Indiana. In high school he played the clarinet, ran track and cross country and played the lead in the senior play. He attended Hanover College and Georgetown College in Kentucky where he majored in economics and business administration and was named Outstanding Student in Economics at Georgetown in 1964. Jim enjoys raising Christmas trees, writing poetry and attending Celtic and German festivals.
While at Georgetown, he met his future wife Alice, a nursing student. They have 3 daughters and grandchildren. Jim worked for F.W. Woolworth and attended post graduate courses at Ohio State University in 1971. He became a Distributive Education Teacher Coordinator and a Mat teacher at Southeastern Indiana Vocational School. In 1992 he became the principal at Southern Career Center and was named Indiana's Outstanding Vocational Administrator of the Year in 1999. He retired in 2011.
Brother Jim served as Master Counselor in DeMolay in his youth and was raised a Master Mason in 1964. He has been Master of his Lodge and holds several titles in York Rite including Eminent Commander and Ritual Instructor. Jim and Alice joined Madison Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star in 1979 and have served as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron. Jim has been Worthy Patron 28 times.
In 2016, Jim served as Grand Sentinel for Cindy Skura, PGM. In 2017, he was partnered with Angela Hensell when she was elected Associate Grand Conductress. Brother Jim was installed as Worthy Grand Patron of the Indiana Grand chapter in June of 2022.
