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University Community Remembers Jennifer Rogers, Emeritus Faculty

08/10/2022

JONESBORO – The university community extends sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of former faculty member Jennifer Rogers of Conway, who died Sunday. Rogers retired from Arkansas State University and was named emeritus instructor of radio-television in 2005.

With a family background in entertainment, Rogers became a cast member at Silver Dollar City in Branson, where a highlight was working as a stand-in for Granny (Irene Ryan) and tap dancing with Jed (Buddy Ebsen) during filming of an episode of the popular 1960s TV comedy “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Rogers earned a master’s degree at University of Memphis before beginning her career at a Memphis television station, eventually becoming the first woman to be a producer and director in that market. She moved into teaching, at Oklahoma State, then came to A-State to lead classes in broadcasting techniques for 19 years. She finished her career at Arkansas PBS.

Her funeral service is at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, in Conway. The complete obituary is online.

The clock tower of the Dean B. Ellis Library will be lighted scarlet Thursday evening, Aug. 11, in memorial tribute to her service and contributions to Arkansas State University.

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Jennifer Rogers, 1943-2022