Jim Rogers, Philanthropist, CEO, Sunbelt Communications, University Chancellor
Imagine working extremely hard all of your life to get ahead and then taking over $2 out of every $3 you have ever accumulated and giving it all away. You donate it to help fund education and other causes you believe in within communities where you do business. That would be a great example of good business at its best.
Now, imagine putting a few hundred million at the end of those numbers and that’s exactly what Jim Rogers, CEO of Sunbelt Communications, University Chancellor and leading philanthropist, has done. He has put his money and time where his mouth is and has committed to give back over $200 million, primarily to education.
"My family moved to Las Vegas from Los Alamos, New Mexico, in 1953," Rogers recalls affectionately. "It was only a town of about 22,000. Las Vegas was kind of the wild, wild West."
Rogers, a 1956 graduate of Las Vegas High School, received degrees in accounting and law from the University of Arizona and a Master of Laws from the University of Southern California, along with five honorary doctorates.
Education has always been important to Rogers, who put his own education into practice and became a leading Las Vegas attorney from 1964 - 1988.
On September 1, 1971, Rogers filed a competing application for a broadcast license of the local NBC affiliate. "We litigated through 1979, and eventually I won," he says proudly. On October 30, 1979, he went on the air as KVBC. It took Rogers from 1979 - 1984 to really get it in shape. "Now, we’ve been No. 1 for 19 years running."
Through acquisition, Sunbelt now owns and operates 16 television stations throughout the mountain states. Rogers has built a net worth of over $300 million, primarily through his 98% share holdings of Sunbelt Communications stock, banking and other business interests.
"Regarding philanthropy, you can’t take it with you," Rogers chuckles. "It is a lot more fun to give it away while you are still here so you can see what happens to it. I got involved with UNLV Boyd School of Law through Dick Morgan. I was in on the ground floor. One of the most important things to me is getting to read and keep the letters from students thanking me for their scholarships."
Rogers’ and wife Beverly’s gifts to higher education include $115 million to UA, the University of Arizona College of Law, $28.5 million to the UNLV College of Law in Las Vegas, as well as several other contributions.
In May 2004, Rogers was appointed interim chancellor of the Nevada University System, and in May 2005, chancellor. His businesslike, CEO approach is generating great results.
"We are all eager to see new business come into Las Vegas and we want to support them in any way we can," states Rogers." That is why I am on the executive committee of the NDA - The Nevada Development Authority. They are doing an outstanding job."
Aside from business, Jim and Beverly have created one of the top classic car collections in the United States and own over 160 automobiles. The Rogers have three children and six grandchildren. "This is a great city. I can’t imagine living any place else. I see Las Vegas doubled in the next 10 years. I also see the education system improving five-fold." Many thanks go out to the generous man who put others first and decided to lead the way in education.
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Imagine working extremely hard all of your life to get ahead and then taking over $2 out of every $3 you have ever accumulated and giving it all away. You donate it to help fund education and other causes you believe in within communities where you do business. That would be a great example of good business at its best.
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