Michael Thomas Rogers, 65 of Lubbock, TX passed away on February 24, 2024. Michael was born to Alfred and Ola Rogers on July 19, 1958 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Michael married Alisa Salley on June 14th, 2008 in Lubbock, TX at the home of Sam Salley.
Mike grew up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He was a self-described shy boy, especially around the girls. During Mike’s senior year of high school, a local DJ visited Portsmouth High for career day. Mike became enamored with being on the radio. While still in high school, Mike earned his third class radio license and became a DJ at WBBX in Portsmouth. He worked at different stations in the Northeast until he joined the US Air Force. Mike continued to be a part-time DJ after the Air Force brought him to San Antonio, Texas in 1981. He returned to being a full-time DJ after leaving the Air Force in 1985. Mike’s broadcasting career took him around Texas, to Danville, Ohio, Colorado Springs, and Denver. Somewhere in Mike’s radio journey, he became Mike Landecker. Mike’s career ended at Oldies 103 in Austin after the station flipped formats and let all their DJs go. In 2009, Mike became a volunteer DJ with the Internet Radio Station Atlantic Oldies 2NG Radio. With Alisa as his producer, Mike created the shows at home and uploaded them to the 2NG server. Mike continued doing this volunteer work until his lung cancer surgery in December 2013.
Mike was proud to be a Veteran even as it left him 100% disabled. Mike was most proud, however, of being a dad to his daughter, Danielle. He lovingly called her his munchkin. They always ended their phone calls with ‘AFLAC’. This came about because Dani loved the AFLAC duck in the old commercials. Mike saw Danielle graduate from both high school and college. He surprised everyone when he was able to walk Dani down the aisle at her wedding last year.
Mike loved Star Trek and enjoyed building phasers after lung cancer kept him from working again. He prided himself in distressing the phasers to make them look screen used. Mike also loved all things Batman, Superman, Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America. Mike seldom met a stranger. His ability to connect with someone was second to none. As a friend of ours said after learning of Mike’s death… ‘I can only hope and pray that Mike Landecker is spinning the vinyl discs again’. I also hope that’s true. He was a great father and an incredible husband. Michael Rogers is leaving a giant hole in our hearts.
Michael is survived by his wife Alisa Rogers; his daughter Danielle Rogers (Salem); brother William “Bill” Whicker; sisters, Sue Jones (Steve), Allison Rogers Hopley, and Shawn Rogers.
He is preceded in death by his parents Alfred “Al” and Ola Rogers, and his sister Patricia “Patty” Lent.
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