Dan Rogas was born on August 9, 1926 in Port Arthur, TX. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, also in Port Arthur. Rogas played college football at Tulane University in New Orleans from 1947 – 1950. Following his graduation, Rogas was drafted by the Cleveland Browns but played the 1951 season with the Detroit Lions. Rogas was the first National Football League draftee from Port Arthur. He played for the Lions for one season and was transferred to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 1952 season.

Lamar University in Beaumont, TX hired Rogas in 1955 to serve as their offensive line coach. Rogas served the university in that position until 1971. During that time he coached 22 all-conference and five All-America players. Beginning in 1963, Rogas also coached the Lamar University men’s golf team. In his first year as coach, Rogas led the team to the 1963 Lone Star conference championship. Following that season, the team was moved to the newly formed Southland Conference where Rogas led his players to the first 10 conference championships from 1964 until 1973. In 1972, Rogas moved into athletic administration at the University where he served as the athletic business manager and executive director of the Cardinal Club in addition to continuing to coach the golf team. In Rogas’ last year as the head coach of the golf team at Lamar University, he led the team to another conference championship, its twelfth under his leadership. The Southland Conference named Rogas the men’s golf coach of the year twice in 1973 and 1981.

In addition to his leadership of the golf team as their head coach, Rogas was an integral part of the design and building of the golf driving range at Lamar University. While he worked at Lamar University, Dan Rogas positively impacted the lives of hundreds of students and athletes by serving as their mentor. Rogas also worked to improve the community of Beaumont by serving as the President of the Young Men’s Business League (YMBL). He was also named the YMBL’s Man of the Year. In 1986, Lamar University recognized Rogas’ contributions to the university by inducting him into its Cardinal Hall of Honor. Rogas’ career as a football player and coach was also recognized by Tulane University in 1994 when they inducted him into their Athletics Hall of Fame. Rogas was additionally honored by the Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Association as an honor player and coach.

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