He served in the United States Army Air Corps as a Captain Bombardier during World War II, flying 33 missions over Europe from 1943 to 1945.

He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1947.

He was General Counsel of the Kansas Farm Bureau and Service Companies in Manhattan from 1960 to 1975.

[1] On July 15, 1975, Rogers was nominated by President Gerald Ford to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas vacated by Judge Henry George Templar.

Rogers was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 31, 1975, and received his commission on August 5, 1975.