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Fred "the bat" Rogers also known as the first Jew to hit .335 in the major leagues in nineteen dickety two later went on to entrance child with his all nude four hour flute solo session on top of a pile of his surprisingly old man smelling jackets and WWII memorabilia. In his final years he went on to record a series of spoken word albums including Get Off My Lawn Your Standing Over The Trap Door To My Dungeon and Dem Fishies Be Mine Nigger
{{Infobox_Biography |
subject_name = Fred Rogers |
image_name = Fred Rodgers.jpg|
image_caption = | |
date_of_birth = [[March 20]], [[1928]] |
place_of_birth = [[Latrobe, Pennsylvania]] |
date_of_death = [[February 27]], [[2003]] |
place_of_death = [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] |
}}

Reverend '''Frederick McFeely Rogers''' ([[March 20]], [[1928]] – [[February 27]], [[2003]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[educator]], [[Minister (religion)|minister]], songwriter and [[television]] host. Rogers was the host of the internationally acclaimed children's [[television]] show ''[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]'', in production from 1968 to 2001. As '''Mister Rogers''', he became an iconic presence to millions of viewers. Rogers was also an [[Holy Orders|ordained]] [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian]] [[religious minister|minister]]. Throughout his life, he was a tireless advocate for the education and welfare of children.

== Personal life ==
Rogers was born in [[Latrobe, Pennsylvania|Latrobe]], [[Pennsylvania]], a town located 40 miles (65 km) southeast of [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]]. He was born to James and Nancy Rogers; he spent many years as an only child, which shaped his creativity and imagination. He spent much of his free time as a child with his grandfather, Fred McFeely, and had an interest in puppetry and in music.

When Rogers was 11, his parents adopted a daughter, Elaine. His parents also acted as foster parents to a [[African American|black]] teenager named George; George's mother had died, and he came to live with the Rogers family. Rogers eventually came to consider George his older brother. George later became an instructor for the [[Tuskegee Airmen]] of [[World War II]] and also taught Rogers to fly.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.garfield.library.upenn.edu/essays/v12p270y1989.pdf#search=%22%22mr.%20rogers%22%20tuskegee%22
|title=Mister Rogers on the Roots of Nurturing and the Untapped Role of Men in Professional Childcare
|author=Eugene Garfield
|date=[[September 25]], [[1989]]
|work=Current Comments
|format=pdf
|accessdate=2006-09-24}}</ref>

Following [[secondary school]], he studied at [[Dartmouth College]] in [[Hanover, New Hampshire|Hanover]], [[New Hampshire]] between 1946 and 1948 before transferring to [[Rollins College]] in [[Winter Park, Florida|Winter Park]], [[Florida]]. He received a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in music composition there in 1951.

At Rollins, Rogers met his wife, Sara Joanne Byrd; they had two sons, James (born in 1959) and John (born in 1961).

=== Television career ===
Rogers had a life-changing moment when he first saw television in his parents' home. He had planned to enter [[seminary]] after college, but had been diverted into [[television]] after his first experience as a viewer; he wanted to explore what the medium was capable of. "I went into television because I hated it so. And I thought there was some way of using this fabulous instrument to be of nurture to those who would watch and listen."

He thus applied for a job at [[NBC]] in [[New York]] and was accepted because of his music degree. Rogers moved to New York in 1951 and spent three years working in the production staff for music-centered programming such as ''NBC Opera Theater''. He also worked on [[Gabby Hayes]]' show for children. Ultimately, however, while he did want to remain in [[children's television]], Rogers decided that commercial television's reliance on advertisement and merchandising undermined its ability to educate or enrich young audiences, and quit NBC.

In 1954, he began working at [[WQED (TV)|WQED]], a Pittsburgh public television station, as a [[puppeteer]] on a local children's series, ''The Children's Corner''. For the next seven years, he worked with host [[Josie Carey]] in unscripted [[live TV]], and developed many of the puppets, characters and music used in his later work, such as King Friday XIII, and Curious X the Owl. Rogers first began wearing his famous sneakers when he found it to be quieter that his work shoes when running around behind the set. He was also the voices behind King Friday XIII and Queen Sara Saturday (named after his wife), rulers of the neighborhood, as well as X the Owl, Henrietta Pussycat, Daniel the Striped Tiger, Lady Elaine Fairchild (named for Fred's sister, Elaine) and Donkey Hodie. The show won a Sylvania Award for best children's show, and was briefly broadcast nationally on NBC.

For eight years during this period, he would leave the WQED studios during his lunch breaks to study [[theology]] at the nearby [[Pittsburgh Theological Seminary]]. Rogers, however, was not interested in preaching, and after his ordination as a Presbyterian minister in 1962, he was specifically charged to continue his work with children's TV. Rogers is among a string of entertainers (including [[Jackie Mason]], [[Hugh Beaumont (actor)|Hugh Beaumont]], [[Clifton Davis]], and [[Ralph Waite]]) who have a formal theological background. He had also done work at the [[University of Pittsburgh|University of Pittsburgh's]] [[Graduate School]] of [[Child Development]].

In 1963, Rogers moved to [[Toronto]], where he was contracted by the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] (CBC) to develop a 15 minute children's television program: ''Mister Rogers'', which would be his debut in front of the [[Professional video camera|camera]]. The show was a hit with [[children]], but only lasted for three seasons on the [[network television|network]]. Many of his famous set pieces, such as the trolley, Eiffel Tower, the 'tree', and 'castle' were all created by designers at the CBC. While on production in Canada, Rogers brought with him his friend and [[understudy]], [[Ernie Coombs]], who would go on to create "[[Mr. Dressup]]," a very successful and long running children's show in Canada which, in many ways, was similar to "Mister Roger's Neighborhood." ''Mr. Dressup'' had also used some of the songs that would later go on Rogers' later program.

In 1966, Rogers acquired the rights for his program from the CBC, and moved the show to [[WQED]] in Pittsburgh, where he had worked on ''The Children's Corner''. He developed the new show for the [[Eastern Educational Network]]. Stations which carried the program were limited; they included educational stations in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Washington, DC]] and [[New York City]].

Distribution of ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' began on [[February 19]] [[1968]]. The following year, the show moved to [[PBS]] (Public Broadcasting System). In [[1971]], Rogers formed Family Communications, Inc. (FCI), and the company established offices in the WQED building in Pittsburgh. Initially, the company served solely as the production arm of ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'', but now develops and produces an array of children's programming and educational materials. In 2000 Fred Rogers was diagnosed with stomach cancer which brought production of Mister Rogers Neighborhood to an end.

=== Death and memorial ===
After returning to Pittsburgh, Rogers attended and participated in activities at the Sixth Presbyterian church in the [[Squirrel Hill]] neighborhood of Pittsburgh. On [[February 27]], [[2003]] he died from [[stomach cancer]], a short time after his retirement, at the age of 74.

Rev. William P. Barker presided over a public memorial, and attendees included [[Teresa Heinz Kerry]], former "[[Good Morning America]]" host [[David Hartman]], [[Elsie Hillman]], [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] President [[Pat Mitchell]], ''[[Arthur (TV series)|Arthur]]'' creator [[Marc Brown]], and ''[[The Very Hungry Caterpillar]]'' author-illustrator [[Eric Carle]], as well as about 2,700 other people stuffed into a near-capacity Heinz Hall.

Speakers remembered Rogers' love of children, devotion to his religion, enthusiasm for music, and quirks. [[Teresa Heinz Kerry]] said of Rogers, "He never condescended, just invited us into his conversation. He spoke to us as the people we were, not as the people others wished we were." [[Cellist]] [[Yo-Yo Ma]], on a concert tour overseas, played on video, and [[violinist]] [[Itzhak Perlman]] played in person. Outside, a number of members of an anti-gay organization protested over his teachings about tolerance and acceptance, while about 150 supporters of Mr. Rogers from [[gay rights]] and peace groups marched in counter-protest, singing songs from ''Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood''.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20030504rogers0504p1.asp
|title=Pittsburgh bids farewell to Fred Rogers with moving public tribute
|author=Barbara Vancheri and Rob Owen
|date=[[May 4]], [[2003]]
|work=Post-Gazette
|accessdate=2006-11-18}}</ref>
Fred Rogers' remains are entombed in a family [[crypt]] in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

== Overview of ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood''==
{{Main|Mister Rogers' Neighborhood}}

''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' began airing in [[1968]]; the last set of new episodes were taped in December 2000, and began airing in August 2001. ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' has the distinction of being the longest running program on PBS.

* Each episode begins the same way, with Mister Rogers coming home and singing his theme song, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" and changing into [[Sneaker (footwear)|sneakers]] and a zippered [[Cardigan (sweater)|cardigan]] sweater.
* In an episode, Rogers might have an earnest conversation with his television audience, interact with live guests, take a field trip to a nearby place such as a [[bakery]] or music store, or watch a short film.
* Typical video subject matter includes demonstrations of how inanimate objects, such as bulldozers, work or are manufactured.
* Each episode includes a trip to Rogers' "[[Neighborhood of Make-Believe]]," which features a trolley that has its own chiming theme song, a castle, and the kingdom's citizens, including King Friday XIII. The subjects being discussed in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe often allow further development of thematic elements that are being discussed in Mister Rogers' "real" neighborhood.
* Typically, each week's episodes explore a major theme, such as going to school for the first time. Most of the episodes end with Mr. Rogers singing the song "It's Such a Good Feeling."
[[Image:Mister_Rogers_and_Big_Bird.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Mister Rogers visits Sesame Street and meets Big Bird.]]

Visually, the presentation of the show was very simple; it did not feature the [[animation]] or fast pace of other children's shows, like ''[[Sesame Street]]''. Rogers composed all the music for his series. He was concerned with teaching children to love themselves and others. He also tried to address common childhood fears with comforting songs and [[skit]]s. For example, one of his famous songs explains how you can't be pulled down the [[bathtub]] drain — because you won't fit. He even once took a trip to the [[Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh]] to show children that a hospital is not a place to be afraid of. During the [[Gulf War]] in the early 1990s, he assured children that all children in the neighborhood would be well cared for, and asked parents to promise to take care of their children. The still timely and reassuring message was aired again by PBS during the media storm that preceded the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|military action]] against [[Iraq]] in 2003.

[[Image:Fred Rogers and Yo Yo Ma.jpg|thumb|Fred Rogers and [[Yo-Yo Ma]] discuss how music can be used to deal with angry feelings.]]
On the eve of the announcement that ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' would cease production of new episodes, ''[[TV Guide]]'' interviewed Rogers and led the story with an anecdote. Apparently, Rogers had been driving the same car for years, an old second-hand [[Chevrolet Impala|Impala]]. Then it was stolen from its parking spot near the [[WQED]] studio. Rogers filed a police report, the story was picked up by local news outlets, and general shock swept across town. Within 48 hours, the car was back in the spot where he left it, along with a note saying "If we'd known it was yours, we never would have taken it!" {{fact}}

=== Emmys for programming ===
''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' won four [[Emmy]] awards, including one for lifetime achievement.

During the 1997 [[Daytime Emmys]], the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Rogers. The following is an excerpt from ''[[Esquire Magazine]]'s'' coverage of the gala, written by Tom Junod:

{{quotation|
Mister Rogers went onstage to accept the award — and there, in front of all the soap opera stars and talk show sinceratrons, in front of all the jutting man-tanned jaws and jutting saltwater bosoms, he made his small bow and said into the microphone, "All of us have special ones who have loved us into being. Would you just take, along with me, one minute to think of the people who have helped you become who you are. One minute of silence."
<p>
And then he lifted his wrist, looked at the audience, looked at his watch, and said, 'I'll watch the time." There was, at first, a small whoop from the crowd, a giddy, strangled hiccup of laughter, as people realized that he wasn't kidding, that Mister Rogers was not some convenient eunuch, but rather a man, an authority figure who actually expected them to do what he asked. And so they did. One second, two seconds, three seconds — and now the jaws clenched, and the bosoms heaved, and the mascara ran, and the tears fell upon the beglittered gathering like rain leaking down a crystal chandelier. And Mister Rogers finally looked up from his watch and said softly, "May God be with you," to all his vanquished children.}}

Rogers is quoted as saying, "I got into television because I hated it so. And I thought there was some way of using this fabulous instrument to be of nurture to those who would watch and listen."

== Advocacy ==
=== Mister Rogers and the VCR ===
During the controversy surrounding the introduction of the household [[videocassette recorder|VCR]], Rogers was involved in supporting the manufacturers of VCRs in court. His 1979 [[testimony]] in the case ''[[Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.]]'' noted that he did not object to home recording of his television programs, for instance, by families in order to watch together at a later time. This testimony contrasted with the views of others in the television industry who objected to home recording or believed that devices to facilitate it should be taxed or regulated.

The [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] considered the testimony of Rogers in its decision that held that the [[Betamax]] video recorder did not [[Copyright infringement|infringe copyright]]. The Court stated that his views were a notable piece of evidence "that many [television] producers are willing to allow private time-shifting to continue;" it even quoted his testimony in a footnote:

{{Quotation|Some public stations, as well as commercial stations, program the "Neighborhood" at hours when some children cannot use it ... I have always felt that with the advent of all of this new technology that allows people to tape the "Neighborhood" off-the-air, and I'm speaking for the "Neighborhood" because that's what I produce, that they then become much more active in the programming of their family's television life. Very frankly, I am opposed to people being programmed by others. My whole approach in broadcasting has always been "You are an important person just the way you are. You can make healthy decisions." Maybe I'm going on too long, but I just feel that anything that allows a person to be more active in the control of his or her life, in a healthy way, is important.|Frederick Rogers|<ref>[http://www.law.cornell.edu/copyright/cases/464_US_417.htm#464us417n27 Sony Corp. of Amer. v. Universal City Studios, Inc.], 464 U.S. 417 (1984) n27</ref>}}

The [[Home Recording Rights Coalition]] later stated that Rogers was "one of the most prominent witnesses on this issue."

Rogers had been a supporter of VCR use since the very early days of the VCR -- in his final week of episodes of the original run in 1976, Rogers used a [[U-Matic]] VCR to show scenes from past episodes, as a way to prepare viewers for repeats that would begin the following week.

=== Mister Rogers and PBS funding ===
In 1969, Rogers appeared before the [[United States Senate]] [[Subcommittee on Communications]]. His goal was to support funding for [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] and the [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]], in response to significant proposed cuts. In about five minutes of testimony, Rogers spoke of the need for social and emotional education that public television provided. He passionately argued that alternative television programming like his ''Neighborhood'' helped encourage children to become happy and productive citizens, sometimes opposing less positive messages in media and in popular culture. He even recited the lyrics to one of his songs.

The chairman of the subcommittee, [[John O. Pastore]], was not previously familiar with Rogers' work, and was sometimes described as gruff and impatient. However, he reported that the testimony had given him goosebumps, and declared, "Looks like you just earned the $20 million." The subsequent congressional appropriation, for 1971, increased PBS funding from $9 million to $22 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2883185966575573317
|title=Video of Mr. Rogers testimony before Congress
|year=1969
|accessdate=2006-11-17}}</ref>

== Speeches, memberships, awards, and other recognition ==
* In 1969, Mr. Rogers appeared before [[United States Congress|Congress]] to oppose [[Richard Nixon]]'s budget cutbacks for [[Public Broadcasting Service|Public Broadcasting]].
* In 1972, Rogers was the [[commencement speaker]] for the graduation ceremony at [[Eastern Michigan University]] in [[Ypsilanti, Michigan|Ypsilanti]], [[Michigan]].
* In 1987, Rogers was initiated as an [[honorary]] member of [[Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia]] [[Fraternity]], the national fraternity for men of music.
* In 1992, Rogers received a [[Peabody Award|George Foster Peabody Award]] "in recognition of 25 years of beautiful days in the neighborhood."
* On [[May 11]], [[1996]], Rogers gave the commencement speech at North Carolina State University.<ref>{{cite press release
|url=http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/univ_relations/releases/mrrog2.html
|title=Mister Rogers Offers NC State University Grads Words of Support
|date=[[May 11]], [[1996]]
|publisher=NC State University}}</ref>
* In 1999, Rogers was inducted into the [[Television Hall of Fame]].
* On May 8, 1999, Rogers gave the commencement address at [[Westminster Choir College]]. In particular, he told the graduating musicians about his early career as a composer.
* In May 1999, Rogers gave the commencement address at [[Marist College]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.marist.edu/maristscope/jun99/page2.html
|title=Fred Rogers Addresses Marist College Graduates
|work=MaristScope
|publisher=Marist College
|date=[[May 22]], [[1999]]}}</ref>
* In May 2000, Rogers gave the commencement address at [[Old Dominion University]] in Norfolk, Va. <ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.odu.edu/ao/alumni_magazine/summer00/index.html
|title=It was a beautiful day in our neighborhood
|title=Old Dominion University magazine
|date=Summer 2000
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news
|url=http://www.odu.edu/ao/instadv/archive/vol29issue17/rogers.htm
|accessdate=2006-12-02
|title=Fred Rogers to deliver commencement address May 6 at Foreman Field
|work=The Courier
|publisher=Old Dominion University
|date=Volume 29, Issue 17
}}</ref>
* In May 2001, Rogers delivered the commencement address at [[Middlebury College]].<ref>{{cite speech
| title = Commencement Address, Middlebury College
| author = Rogers, Fred
| first = Fred
| last = Rogers
| authorlink =
| date = May 2001
| location = Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont
| url = http://www.middlebury.edu/about/pubaff/addresses/Fred_Rogers_2001.htm
| accessdate =
}}</ref>
* In May 2001, Rogers delivered the commencement address at [[Marquette University]].<ref>{{cite speech
| title = Commencement Address, Marquette University
| author = Rogers, Fred
| first = Fred
| last = Rogers
| authorlink =
| date = May 2001
| location = Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
| url = http://www.riprense.com/Rogersmessage.htm
| accessdate =
}}</ref>
* In 2002 Rogers gave the commencement address at [[Dartmouth College]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2002/june/060902c.html
|title=Fred McFeely Rogers 2002 Commencement Address at Dartmouth College
|date=[[June 9]], [[2002]]
|work=Dartmouth News
|publisher=Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
}}</ref>
* On [[July 9]], [[2002]], Fred Rogers received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] for his contributions to children's education. "Fred Rogers has proven that television can soothe the soul and nurture the spirit and teach the very young," said [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] at the presentation.
* In 2003, a month before his death, Rogers was a [[grand marshal]] of the [[Tournament of Roses Parade]], serving with [[Art Linkletter]] and [[Bill Cosby]].
* On [[March 4]], [[2003]], the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] unanimously passed Resolution 111 honoring Rogers for "his legendary service to the improvement of the lives of children, his steadfast commitment to demonstrating the power of compassion, and his dedication to spreading kindness through example."<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.RES.111.EH: House Resolution 111 honoring Fred Rogers]</ref>
* On [[March 5]], [[2003]] the [[U.S. Senate]] unanimously passed Resolution 16 to commemorate the life of Fred Rogers.<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:S.CON.RES.16.ATS: Senate Resolution 16 honoring Fred Rogers]</ref>
** ''"Through his spirituality and placid nature, Mr. Rogers was able to reach out to our nation's children and encourage each of them to understand the important role they play in their communities and as part of their families," [[Santorum]] said. "More importantly, he did not shy away from dealing with difficult issues of death and divorce but rather encouraged children to express their emotions in a healthy, constructive manner, often providing a simple answer to life's hardships."''
* On [[May 2]], [[2003]], the [[International Astronomical Union]] announced that an [[asteroid]], known as #26858, had been named "[[26858 Misterrogers|Misterrogers]]." The announcement was made by the director of the [[Henry Buhl Jr. Planetarium & Observatory]] at the [[Carnegie Science Center]] in Pittsburgh. The science center worked with Rogers' [[Family Communications]], Inc. to produce a [[planetarium]] show for preschoolers called "The Sky Above Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," which plays at planetariums across the [[United States]].
* In September of 2003, [[Saint Vincent College]] ([[Latrobe, Pennsylvania]]) announced it would establish [[The Fred M. Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media]].
* The [[Smithsonian Institution]] displays one of Mister Rogers' sweaters.

== Facts and figures ==
[[Pittsburgh Magazine]] dedicated their April [[2003]] issue to commemorate Rogers' life and mourn his passing. Included in the magazine is a table of information that measures the impact Rogers had. Among the items cited:

* 10 ½: Fred Rogers' shoe size
* 24: The number of cardigans Rogers had over the course of his career
* 4: Number of Emmys that Rogers won
* 8: The percentage of households tuned in to ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' at its ratings peak, in [[1985]].
* 1: Number of times Rogers appeared on television as someone other than himself (he played a preacher on ''[[Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman]]'')
* 33: Number of seasons that ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' produced new episodes
* 25: Number of pages the magazine would have had to use to print every award and recognition that Rogers had received
* 40: Number of honorary degrees awarded to Rogers
* 1,000: Number of episodes of ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood''
* 5: The age that Rogers began playing piano
* 200: Number of songs Rogers wrote during his career
* 60: Number of seconds of silence that Rogers would ask for at speaking engagements; he would instruct the audience to use the minute of silence to remember those who helped them become who they were.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{imdb name|id=0736872|name=Fred Rogers}}
* [http://pbskids.org/rogers PBS Kids: ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'']
* [http://www.misterrogers.org/ Family Communications, Inc.]
* [http://www.fredrogerscenter.org/ The Fred M. Rogers Center]
* [http://www.misterrogers.org/mister_rogers_neighborhood/awards_degrees.asp Full List of Honorary Degrees and Awards Given to Fred Rogers]
* [http://www.medaloffreedom.com/FredRogers.htm About his Presidential Medal of Freedom]
* [http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/oldnews/2000/00412.htm News article on his final episodes]
* [http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2003/030227_mfe_rogershero_1.html Can You Say ... Hero?] This article originally appeared in the November 1998 ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire magazine]]''
* [http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20030504rogers0504p1.asp Pittsburgh bids farewell to Fred Rogers with moving public tribute] Barbara Vancheri and Rob Owen, ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', [[May 4]], [[2003]]
* [http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/63102p-58842c.html Sad day in neighborhood: Beloved Mister Rogers dies]
* [http://www.salon.com/people/bc/1999/08/10/rogers/ Salon's Brilliant Careers: Fred Rogers]
* [http://wiredforbooks.org/fredrogers/ 1987 audio interview of Fred Rogers by Don Swaim of CBS Radio, RealAudio]
* [http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22archive+of+american%22+%22fred+rogers%22&lv=1 Archive of American Television Video Interview with Fred Rogers]
* [http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/misc/fred-rogers/ Biography of Fred Rogers at the "Rotten" Library]
* [http://www.wamu.org/audio/dr/02/12/r2021217-4073.ram December 2002 Interview on NPR's The Diane Rehm Show (Real Audio)]
* [http://www.thislife.org/pages/descriptions/01/184.html "This American Life" episode on "Neighbors", 5/11/01, 20 minute segment by interviewer who had visited the Rogers summer cottage on Nantucket twenty years before as a child ]

[[Category:1928 births|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:2003 deaths|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:American Presbyterians|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:American television actors|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:American television personalities|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:American vegetarians|Rogers,Fred]]
[[Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Peabody Award winners|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Hollywood Walk of Fame|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Mister Rogers' Neighborhood|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:PBS television network|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Actors from Pittsburgh|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Canadian Broadcasting Corporation personalities|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Christian ministers|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Dartmouth College alumni|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:People from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Presbyterian actors|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:American puppeteers|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Religion in Pittsburgh|Rogers, Fred]]
[[Category:Stomach cancer deaths|Rogers, Fred]]

[[fr:Fred Rogers]]
[[id:Mister Rogers]]
[[simple:Fred Rogers]]

Revision as of 21:31, 24 January 2007

Fred "the bat" Rogers also known as the first Jew to hit .335 in the major leagues in nineteen dickety two later went on to entrance child with his all nude four hour flute solo session on top of a pile of his surprisingly old man smelling jackets and WWII memorabilia. In his final years he went on to record a series of spoken word albums including Get Off My Lawn Your Standing Over The Trap Door To My Dungeon and Dem Fishies Be Mine Nigger