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Dr. Orville Rodgers: A Hero Or Hero?

Decent Essays

John Wooden, the former UCLA basketball coach, once said, “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” In this, he indicates that often the character of a man is defined by the small, or big, acts done in private, without the motive of wanting to impress others. In 1925, on the small, tropical island of Barbados, Rupert and Louise Rodgers had a son. Less than twenty years later, the young man, named Orville Rodgers, was thrust into one of the greatest armed conflicts of human history:World War II. After leaving home to serve in the Royal Air Force, Dr. Orville Rodgers would go on to live a life defined by his smile, voice, and love for all those around him, one that truly left an imprint on the hearts of many. …show more content…

Dr. Rodgers’ strong faith and love for all around him is undoubtedly the most extraordinary aspect that renders him a hero. When one is confronted by obstacles, often times they might complain or struggle to overcome such hurdles. For Orville, his life was not void of any obstacles, but to the contrary. Raised in the tense conditions of pre-civil rights movement, he faced opposition from a young age. Furthermore, he was often deprived of basic rights and rewards, yet he had nothing but compassion for all of those who persecuted him. Later in life, his daughter, born with a disability, died in her mid-thirties in 2005. His dear wife soon became ill and slowly suffered for years, before she too passed away after a long, hard fought battle with cancer. During this time, Orville himself was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a chronic lung disease that eventually claimed his life on April 8th, 2014. Given all this, it is easy to assume that he must have been a bitter old man. But it was quite the opposite. Orville Rogers was a longtime Christian and relied on his faith as an outlet. His gifted voice and ballads would grace hundreds of strangers and friends alike during his long life, a hobby he often used to bring happiness to his community. He was known for his singing at church in his younger days. Later in life, he even lead his retirement communities’ choir. Aside from his faith and singing, he led bible studies and was even an elder at the Good News Bible Chapel, his church. It was during the hardest time in his life when he had the greatest effect on all around him. Despite the worst of circumstances, he remained a devoted husband, father, and doctor. He never left his wife’s side, and he was known to sit, talk, and mentor any broken or weary soul. His toothy smile could light even the darkest of days. Without a doubt, this renders him an unsung hero. Never

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