William "Bill" Rogers was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on September 14, 1947 to Robert and Lucille Klingensmith. He and his mother left soon after that and Bill grew up in Sacramento, California with her. He did not finish high school until he went into the Navy at 17 years old, in 1964. He was immediately sent to Vietnam on the USS Coral Sea, and stayed until 1970 on his last ship, the USS Graffias. Although he never brought it up, there was a price he paid during those years-one that followed him everywhere afterward. Fortunately, Bill found the strength to deal with his years in the military and created a life for himself afterward. He worked for Western and Delta Airlines for many years after his service. He retired from the airlines and took a job in the mail room of the Marriott Library at the U of U. He stayed there for eleven years and became a welcomed comedic mailman with many friends.

Bill was married three times, and gained a son, Bryan Rogers and a daughter, Michelle Edge. They were two of the most important people in his life and gave him 4 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. He married Elizabeth Hibbard in 1981. She was the third and last woman he fell in love with. They have been married for 45 wonderful years, Bill will be missed and cherished at the same time. He would be surprised at how many people always loved and will miss him.