News : VGH Founders Award Honorees - Rogers & Herger Family

Our next recipient is the Rodgers and Herger, families. The Rodgers had four kids… Maude, Della, Warren and Hazel. They had a deep commitment to the welfare of the community with values of living frugally, thriftiness, generosity, and giving of their energy and money to insure the existence of Virginia Gay Hospital. Those who knew them did not describe them as stingy, but charming and perhaps slightly eccentric. Strongly religious, straightforward, honest, friendly, educated and generous. Two girls were school teachers and Warren was a veteran. Hazel Rodgers was a resident of the VGH Annex and the last survivor of her siblings. She was known as being cheerful and having a love for music and literature. The Rodgers Trust was established in 1971, which conveyed property to Vinton's hospital. The Rodgers Trust supported the hospital expansion and renovations in 1975.

One of the Rodgers daughters, Maude, married Henry Herger. They had a deep commitment to the hospital. It was with the death of Maude Herger that prompted careful estate planning. The Herger Trust supported the building of the hospital in 1974.

We would also like to highlight Maude and Henry's son, George Herger, who served on VGH Board for 15 years from 1979 to 1994. He is 3 included with Board members with more than 10 years of service. During his tenure, the hospital added a radiology suite, emergency and trauma area, the lab was completely remodeled, and he gave much guidance to the "Investment in our Future" campaign. Many other organizations in Vinton were recipients of both families' generosity.

It is with gratitude and honor that we name the Rodgers Family and the Herger Family with the VGH Founders Class.