Dan “Coach” Rogas

Dan William Rogas Sr. passed away on May 1, 2018. For the many accomplishments during his life, Dan was recognized by Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Association in Port Arthur Texas, Lamar University Cardinal Hall of Honor, Tulane University Athletics Hall of Fame and the Port Arthur Museum of the Gulf Coast.

 Dan’s athletic career began with playing a major role on the Port Arthur Thomas Jefferson football team that had an undefeated season by beating Dallas Highland Park led by Heisman trophy winner and future Pro Football Hall of Famer, Doak Walker. He was named to the United Press All-State First Team that year.

 At Tulane University, he was a two-way starter beginning in his freshman year. Tulane was SEC Champions in 1949 and ranked in the AP top 20 in 1948 and 1950. Dan was selected to play in both the Senior Bowl and the Blue-Grey Game in his senior year.

 Dan was drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns during 1951 National Football League draft and was the first player to be drafted from Port Arthur, Texas. He was traded to the Detroit Lions for the 1951 season and was a starter at offensive right guard in his rookie year. He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 1952 season.

 Dan began his coaching career at Southeastern Louisiana in 1953. In 1955, he joined the coaching staff at Lamar Tech and during his 16-year tenure at Lamar produced 22 all-conference and five All-American linemen. Beginning in 1957, Lamar had 11 consecutive winning seasons.  The team was the Lone Star Conference Champion in 1957. The 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1971 teams were Southland Conference Champions.

 Beginning in 1963, Rogas also coached the Lamar University men’s golf team. In his first year, Rogas led the team to the 1963 Lone Star conference championship. The team was moved to the Southland Conference where Rogas led his players to the first 10 conference championships from 1964 until 1973. In Rogas’ last year as the head coach, he led the golf team to another conference championship, its twelfth under his leadership. The Southland Conference named Rogas the men’s golf coach of the year twice in 1973 and 1981. His teams won the College National Golf Championships in 1967 and 1968 and lost the 1966 national championship by only one stroke. The number of players achieving All Conference and College All American recognition rivaled the numbers achieved in football.

 In 1971, Dan moved into administration as the athletic business manager and was the founding director of the Lamar Cardinal Club. He also contributed a great deal of his time serving the Beaumont community through his volunteer work in the Beaumont Young Men’s Business League (YMBL) which included being elected president in 1987 and Chairman of the South Texas State Fair in 1990.

 Activities on the water were always part of his life. Betty Jean and he always enjoyed their many fishing/water skiing vacations and weekend trips to Lake Sam Rayburn and to Bolivar Peninsula with their children then later with grandchildren. There were also many fishing trips with his sons on Galveston Bay, Sabine Lake and the Chandeleur Islands. Growing up in Port Arthur, Dan and his brother, Gene, had one of the first pleasure sailboats on Sabine Lake. They continued their sailing on Lake Pontchartrain while at Tulane together.

 Dan is preceded in death by his father and mother, his brothers Henry and Gene. He is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-three years, Betty Jean Wilder; son, Dan Rogas, Jr., and his wife, Tammy; daughter, Gale Rogas Terracina Doty and her husband, Ron; son David Rogas; eight grandchildren, Melissa Terracina Luke and her husband, Harrison; Jordan Rogas, Trey Terracina, Madison Rogas, Ashton Doty Marchand and her husband, Nate; Brett Doty, Allison Doty, Brennan Doty and his wife, Hailey; three great-grandchildren; nephews, Peter Rogas and John Rogas; nieces, Sue Rogas Hammond and Cindy Rogas Sparkman.

 A gathering of Mr. Rogas’ family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, May 4, 2018, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 5, 2018, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas, with interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont. A reception celebrating his life will follow immediately at Broussard’s Event Center, 1775 Calder Avenue, Beaumont.

 In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made to Some Other Place, (an outreach center for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church) 590 Center St, Beaumont, Texas 77701; Cardinal Club, Lamar University Athletic Club, 211 Redbird Lane, Beaumont, Texas 77710; YMBL, 7250 Wespark Circle, Beaumont, Texas 77705; or a charity of one’s choice.

Special thanks from the family to Pulse Home Care, Dr. Clayton and staff, Texas Total Care, and Montebello Home Care.