1984 – Beaumont, Texas
Julie Rogers was born in Chicago and graduated from DePaul University Law School at age nineteen. Married to the late businessman Ben J. Rogers, their family grew to one daughter, two sons and three grandchildren. Mrs. Rogers had a lifelong record of service to arts and civic organizations. She was Chairman Emeritus of the Jefferson County Mental Health Association and on the Boards of Trustees of the Lamar University Foundation and Friends of the Arts, the Beaumont Music Commission, Texas Arts Alliance, Texas Mental Health Association, Beau-mont Symphony Society, Salvation Army (first woman in Texas to receive a lifetime membership for starting and chairing [for thirty-five years] a Christmas program which was adopted throughout the world), the Joe Louis International Sports Foundation and Suicide Rescue. In 1982, the Julie Rogers Theatre for the Performing Arts in Beaumont was named in recognition of her extraordinary efforts on behalf of performing arts. She also has been the recipient of the Brotherwood Award from The National Conference of Christians and Jews, the N.A.A.C.P. Award from the United Negro Colleges, Public Citizen of the Year from the National Association of Social Workers, Suicide Rescue Humanitarian Award, the Ima Hogg Award for her work in the field of mental health and was honored by the establishment of the Julie Rogers Mental Health Volunteers Award in her honor and the Special Services Fund for Youth. (Deceased 1998)
