Chief Financial Officer Bob Rogers will retire June 30 after 37 years of service to Darlington School, announced Headmaster Tom Whitworth at an all-school faculty meeting last week.
“Bob has served Darlington well over the past 37 years, and the school has certainly benefitted from his passion for and dedication to excellence in education,” Whitworth said. “He is a talented faculty member who has played the role of teacher, coach, duty staff member and administrator during his time here, always leading by example in support of Darlington’s mission.”
Rogers came to Darlington in 1973 to teach Middle School math and coach football and junior varsity basketball.
“I was looking for a job where I could coach football and my best friend from high school was working here as a teacher and football coach,” Rogers said. “He told me about Darlington, I came and interviewed, and I was hired the next day.”
In nearly four decades of service to the school, Rogers has taught math and science; coached football, basketball and golf; helped found the computer education program, along with Rick Buice; served as chief financial officer for more than two decades; and watched four children walk across the stage at Commencement.
“One of the most incredible benefits of working here is that all four of my wife’s and my children have all graduated from Darlington and gone on to become very successful in their lives,” Rogers said. “When I was still coaching, there was a period of time when I was looking to move into a head coaching job and I had applied at several other schools. I was offered a position at one school but I couldn’t bring myself to take it because I didn’t want to take my kids out of Darlington. It was the right decision. Their experience here has impacted their lives immeasurably.”
In his time as chief financial officer, Rogers has seen the campus undergo countless changes. In fact, there are few buildings – including faculty housing – that have not been added, renovated or torn down during his 25 years in the position.
“It’s really interesting to walk around the campus and remember what it used to look like when I first came here,” Rogers said. “The obvious physical changes to highlight are the Huffman Athletic Center and the new Middle School, without a doubt. The addition at the Lower School was another great project. It has been very gratifying to be part of these projects.”
The other really gratifying thing, Rogers said, has been the opportunity to work with a number of incredible people over the past 37 years.
“I have been very blessed to work with great people here at Darlington,” he said. “From the faculty, staff and students to parents and trustees, everyone has played an important role in making my time here so meaningful. It has been especially rewarding to work with the Board of Trustees and see what Darlington has meant and still means to them.”
Jamie Wilson (’72), treasurer of the Board of Trustees, said one of Rogers’ greatest strengths in his role of chief financial officer has been his institutional knowledge of Darlington and its varied operations, which has been invaluable in the budget process.
“I have enjoyed a very good working relationship with Bob during my tenure on the Board and as a member of the Finance Committee,” Wilson said. “Bob is well liked and respected in the financial community. He is very dedicated to Darlington and has always kept the school’s best interests first and foremost. He has been receptive to outside ideas and has enthusiastically embraced new ways to improve Darlington’s financial reporting. I wish Bob the best and thank him for his many years of dedicated service to Darlington.”
Rogers said he and his wife, Beth, plan to stay in Rome and he looks forward to spending more time with his family and volunteering in the community.
“I’ll get to spend more time with my parents and grandkids and work on some projects at First Methodist Church and Habitat for Humanity,” he said. “I’m also going to spend a lot of time playing golf, hunting and fishing. I know I will miss the daily interactions with the people in my office and also the energy of being around a bunch of kids every day, but I am also looking forward to this new chapter in my life.”
Rogers will be replaced by Beth Pollard, who has served as Darlington’s controller since February 2006. She holds a B.S. from Clemson University and has previous experience as a certified public accountant. Pollard will assume the role of chief financial officer on Jan. 1; however, Rogers will remain at the school through June 30 to ensure a seamless transition.
“We are so fortunate to have had a candidate of Beth’s qualifications available to us right here on Darlington’s campus,” Whitworth said. “She has worked closely with Bob for the past four years and this is the natural next step for her. I have the utmost confidence in her ability to lead the Business Office and continue to promote a professional, credible environment.”
