Thomas Wynn Rogers (24 October 1919 – 9 August 1996) was an American badminton player who won numerous U.S. national titles from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s.
Career
Primarily a doubles player, the tall, rangy Rogers swept all available doubles events (Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Senior [age 40+] Men’s Doubles) at the U.S. Open Championships of 1961 and 1962. He was a runner-up in both Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles at the prestigious All-England Championships in 1949.Herbert Scheele, ed. The International Badminton Federation Handbook for 1970, (J.A. Jennings LTD, Canterbury, Kent, England, 1970). 161, 164. Rogers was ranked first in U.S. men's doubles for seventeen consecutive seasons (1948–1964), the last fourteen of these with his longtime partner Joe Alston. He was a leading player on the 1952 U.S. Thomas Cup (men’s international) team which finished second in the then triennial world team competition. In 1956 Rogers was among the initial class of inductees into the U.S. Badminton Hall of Fame, now called the Walk of Fame.
Achievements International tournaments (7 titles, 5 runners-up) Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result1949 All England Open David G. Freeman Ooi Teik Hock Teoh Seng Khoon 5–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1955 U.S. Open Joe Alston Eddy Choong T. Darryl Thompson 15–6, 12–15, 15–8 Winner 1958 U.S. Open Bob Williams Jørgen Hammergaard Hansen Finn Kobberø 1–15, 8–15 Runner-up 1959 U.S. Open Joe Alston Lim Say Hup Teh Kew San 5–15, 3–15 Runner-up 1961 U.S. Open Joe Alston Michael Hartgrove Alan Mahaffey 15–8, 15–9 Winner 1962 U.S. Open Joe Alston Ferry Sonneville Tan Joe Hok 15–12, 7–15, 15–6 Winner 1964 U.S. Open Joe Alston Michael Hartgrove Jim Poole 15–2, 12–15, 15–10 Winner
Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1949 All England Open Queenie Allen Clinton Stephens Patricia Stephens 5–15, 15–2, 12–15 Runner-up 1954 U.S. Open Loma Smith Joe Alston Lois Alston 10–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1955 U.S. Open Dorothy Hann Joe Alston Lois Alston 8–15, 15–11, 15–9 Winner 1961 U.S. Open Judy Hashman Joe Alston Lois Alston 18–13, 15–2 Winner 1962 U.S. Open Judy Hashman Joe Alston Helen Tibbetts 15–4, 15–7 Winner
Summary Tournament Event Year US Open Men's Doubles 1955, 1961, 1962, 1964 Mixed Doubles 1955, 1961, 1962 US Championships Men's Doubles 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 Mixed Doubles 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952
References