Page 82 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2023 - Online Magazine

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Steve

Jancy Rodgers

Still Investing By Ted Wilson

teve and Jancy are known as Jancy was born to Guy and
Coach and Mrs. Rodgers in Margaret Ginn in Floydada.
Sseveral communities, most Her two brothers, Vaughn,
notably Petersburg, where they live who died in 1990, and Pat, a
on their family farm north of town, retired Methodist minister/
surrounded by cotton fields and counselor, completed her and Jancy and Steve could not
wind chargers. They have produced immediate family. Jancy earned a communicate. Imagine the relief
two sons who are also teachers/ degree in Home Economics with an when Jancy found out that her fiancé
coaches—leaving a legacy beyond Elementary Education certification. was safe!
their family, the classroom, and the
playing field. While at Tech, Steve and Jancy were That next fall they moved to
introduced by a mutual friend on Lockney, where Steve taught science
Steve and his twin sister, Vicki, were a blind date. It led to many more, and coached in Jr. High and Jancy
born to Sidney and Oneta Rodgers and they married May 16, 1970, at taught Home Ec. Three years later,
in Plainview, along with younger Floydada Methodist Church. The they got a call from the Texline
siblings, Richard and Amy. Sidney date is significant because it was only superintendent, Steve’s former high
owned Rodgers Well Service, a five days after the May 11th tornado school coach, offering him the head
business Richard has continued. that devastated Lubbock. football coaching job. They loved
But Steve felt a different calling and being In Lockney where they were
graduated from Texas Tech in 1971 Jancy was in Floydada at the time, close to both of their families, but
with a Physical Education/History but Steve’s friends had planned the superintendent’s words, “If you
degree, intent on teaching and his bachelor party at one of their coach football like you played, I want
coaching. apartments in Lubbock for that you,” spurred them to sign on the
Monday evening, May 11. The group dotted line. The couple agreed that
decided to move their party to White the year in Texline was a
River Lake but failed to notify Jancy “learning experience.”
of the change of plans. The tornado
spawned just east of Tech, and Munday High School was the next
the apartment where the bachelor step, where Steve was an assistant
party was to have been held was coach for three years, before
demolished. becoming head coach for two years.
Jancy taught fourth grade, and sons
Steve and his buddies heard about Brannon and Kirk were added to
the tornado the next morning. When the family. One of Steve’s fondest
they tried to return to Lubbock, memories was a game with rival
National Guard troops prevented Knox City, which found them behind
their entry. Phone lines were down,

82 Lubbock Senior Link