Nevada Broadcasters honor the late Jim Rogers at annual gala Aug. 9

NBA has established a scholarship in the name of Jim and Beverly Rogers LAS VEGAS – The Nevada Broadcasters Association will dedicate its 19th Annual Hall of Fame Scholarship Gala to honoring the memory of longtime broadcaster, philanthropist and education advocate, the late Jim Rogers. The gala recognizes excellence in radio and television broadcasting. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, 3960 Las Vegas Fwy. The event will be one of the largest official, registered Nevada Sesquicentennial events. Registration, a reception and silent auction will take place from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m., and the program and dinner will begin at 7 p.m. Cost for the event is $125 per ticket. Rogers died June 14 after a long battle with cancer. During his full and well-lived life, Rogers was many things to many people – entrepreneur, broadcaster, champion of education, station owner, philanthropist, public commentator, chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, attorney, lifelong learner, husband, father, son. Rogers established Valley Broadcasting Company in 1971. In 1979, he won FCC approval to operate NBC affiliate KORK-TV (renamed KVBC in 1980 and KSNV-DT in 2010), Channel 3 and the Sunbelt Communications Company (now Intermountain West Communications Company) was formed. Rogers expanded IWCC’s reach to include other stations in Arizona, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming, most of which are NBC affiliates. Rogers owned 98 percent of IWCC stock. Three years ago, he was given the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award. Rogers is survived by his wife, Beverly Rogers; three children, Suzanne Rogers Plant, Kimberly Rogers Cell and Perry Rogers; and eight grandchildren. A Jim and Beverly Rogers Scholarship Fund has also been created; it will be awarded for the next five years. Details of the scholarship will be announced at the gala. Those who would like to contribute to the fund should contact Eric Bonnici, executive director of the Nevada Broadcasters Foundation, at eric@nevadabroadcasters.org or 702-794-4994. During the gala, the Nevada Broadcasters Association intends to honor all broadcasters who have passed away in the past two years. To get the most complete list possible, the NBA is asking people to please contact Bob Fisher at the NBA office, 702 794-4994. To become a sponsor of the event, buy an ad in the Tribute Journal honoring the memory of someone in the broadcast industry, donate items to the silent and live auctions, purchase tickets or receive an invitation to the event, call the Nevada Broadcasters Association office at 702-794-4994.