Dr. J. David Rogers

Dr. J. David Rogers passed away on August 23, 2025, surrounded by his family and prepared to meet his Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. 

A popular retired Missouri University of Science and Technology (MS&T) professor, David will be remembered for his love of teaching, his wide range of interests and knowledge, as well as his endearing sense of humor. 

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 12 at 3:00 pm at the Grace Bible Church in Rolla, MO. The church is located at 902 Arkansas Avenue in Rolla.

Born in West Covina, California on May 16, 1954, Jonathan David Rogers was the third son of Dallas and Betty Rogers, and one of a few “Jonathans” born at the hospital around the same time. After a couple of days of being called “David” to differentiate him from the rest of the newborns, the name just stuck. 

Older brothers Robert and Brian often reflect that, despite being the youngest, David was a natural leader, and charismatic enough to convince his easygoing older brothers to do the things he wanted to do. 

David was an Eagle Scout, a multi-sport high school athlete, and his myriad interests ranged from stamp collecting to scale model-building to mountain climbing.

At age 16, David created a “life list” of adventures to undertake, none of which included formal post-secondary education. 

He wanted to scale mountains, fly airplanes, and visit famous places. However, once David found his passion in earth sciences at Mt. San Antonio Community College, he was off and running (and climbing and rafting). 

He earned a B.S. in geology from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona (1976), followed by an M.S. in civil engineering (1979), and ultimately a Ph.D. (1982) in geological engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. David ultimately became a registered civil engineer, engineering geologist, and hydrogeologist, as well as a fellow of the Geological Society of America and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Shortly after completing his Ph.D. at U.C. Berkeley, David married Katrinka Guy, and they settled in nearby Pleasant Hill to raise their growing family, with daughters Beckie and Christie and son Jonathan. 

During the 1980s and ‘90s, David owned geotechnical consulting firms with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. He was frequently the invited speaker at professional associations and conventions, and his reanalysis of the Saint Francis Dam disaster led to a lecture tour across the country with the entire family accompanying him in the minivan.

David also served an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, a role that leveraged his technical skills and his deep appreciation of military history. Lieutenant Commander Rogers relished his adventures in the Navy. He developed intelligence training courses, briefed aircrews across the Pacific Ocean and South America, and became a qualified Naval Observer in the P-3C Orion. David’s nearly photographic memory served him well as a Navy analyst, and he was a highly sought-after instructor.

In the mid-1990s, David left the U.S. Navy Reserve to teach courses at U.C. Berkeley in engineering and environmental geology for civil engineers and planners. He also welcomed another daughter, Julianna. 

His love of teaching expanded to homeschooling all of his own children and, at the close of the decade, David felt called to teaching full-time.

In 2001, David accepted the Karl F. Hasselmann Chair of Geological Engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla (now MS&T). One year later, his youngest son, Daniel, was born in Rolla. 

In addition to his appointment in the Department of Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering at MS&T, David managed the master’s degree program in Military Geological Engineering for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and created a series of online engineering courses for MS&T. Once again, David’s wide range of interests and experiences made his courses popular and engaging. 

Outside of the classroom, students on campus and around the world sought his advice on both their studies and their personal lives. During his time in academia, he continued to consult on large geotechnical projects, from the New Orleans levee failures to the Montecito, CA, debris flow.

David was a consummate storyteller in and out of the classroom. Over the past thirty years, he appeared in several television documentaries on geological and man-made engineering disasters, most recently the Fox series “American Built.” Many of us have turned on the television to see a familiar face illuminating subjects such as the history of the California aqueduct system or the building of Chicago’s O’Hare airport.

David is survived by his wife of 43 years, Katrinka Rogers; daughters Beckie Cramer (Clarke), Christie Rogers (Jeff Nuzzi), Julianna Waldvogel (Jeremie); sons Jonathan (Hannah) and Daniel; grandsons Oliver and Owen Cramer, brothers Robert and Brian; and numerous beloved in-laws and extended family members across the country. He ultimately accomplished most of the things on his “life list,” sharing his amazing experiences with his family, colleagues, and students!

In honor of David’s outstanding contributions to MS&T and to the thousands of students who both enjoyed and benefited from his mentorship, the J. David Rogers Scholarship has been established to support students in Geological Engineering who embody his spirit of curiosity, engagement, and generosity. The scholarship will recognize not only academic achievement but also active involvement in fieldwork, professional growth, and the life of the program.

To donate to this scholarship, please follow this link:

https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/47416/donations/new?designation=drrogersscholarshipfund