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Maybe being born into a large family fostered his interest in others. Family members definitely taught him how to hunt wild game for supper and to show respect for the natural environment.
"There were 10 of us kids to feed," he said. "We'd come in from outdoors and there would be a rabbit in the skillet."
Originally from the Marengo area, Rodgers finished graduate school in Ames and moved to Ottumwa in 1952 for a teaching job. He stayed here until he retired many years later.
"I got in the door and usually they won't let you in with less than five years of experience," Rodgers said.
The superintendent asked if he could start in elementary school but Rodgers said he couldn't teach below seventh grade. Ottumwa had seventh grade at a northside elementary where they needed a male teacher and coach.
"So I taught at Anne G. Wilson School and after four years I went to Washington Junior High," he said. "Then they needed a science teacher at Evans Junior High and I stayed there until they moved ninth grade to the high school."
After five years at Ottumwa High, Rodgers retired.
"Teaching isn't the easiest occupation, but it's been a ball for me," he said.
Rodgers' elementary teachers inspired him to pursue the same career.
"After attending country schools, I decided that if I ever teach, I'm not going to do it that way," he added.
One country teacher did impress him, though. Miss Spading taught third through sixth grades. She told Rodgers elementary teachers "get to know students" because they're "with [students] five days a week."
"For example, if Johnny is hanging his head today, that means he had a hard time at home," she told him. "The teacher who doesn't care isn't a teacher."
While Rodgers was teaching at Evans, he "lost some kids" due to gun accidents. That prompted him to start teaching hunter education classes. He was a natural because of his upbringing and his love for the outdoors.
Rodgers taught the classes for nearly 35 years and has been active in Izaak Walton League since 1957.
"We had a young game warden at the time and we both worked on hunter safety," he said.
"There were 180 accidents in Iowa that one year, including 18 fatalities."
For the past three years, the number of accidents involving hunters younger than 25 was zero.
"I'd like to think hunter education helped," he said.
Rodgers is still teaching at the Boy Scout Camp. He helps scouts with astronomy and geology for merit badges.
"I've been interested in wildlife and natural resources all my life," he said. "After I retired, I noticed there was a vacancy on the county conservation board."
He commended Rhea Huddleston who wrote grants for the Dahlonega project, Vision Iowa and the American Gothic House Visitors Center.
"No one thought the center would work and now the center is built," Rodgers said. "It's been enormously interesting to watch it go up. We've had visitors from every state and 19 foreign countries."
Rodgers also participates in the Turkey Federation and he is a Tree Steward, which is similar to the Master Gardener program through Iowa State University Extension Service.
Why has Rodgers shared so much of his time and energy for so many years?
"I look at myself in the mirror and say, 'Why does that exist?'" he said. "The answer is, 'Service to others is the rent we pay for the space we occupy.'"
Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.
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