James E. Rogers

"Jim was an outstanding advocate for higher education and a great friend. Jim was a distinguished Nevadan in every sense," said Kevin J. Page, chairman of the Board of Regents. "He made it his personal mission to fight for higher education funding when he was chancellor and continued that work after he returned to the private sector. Improving Nevada's education system was Jim's way of giving back to the community."

Rogers was named among the top 12 philanthropists by Time magazine, having given over $275 million to colleges and universities. Most recently, Jim and his wife Beverly pledged $10 million in November 2013 to support the expansion of literary programming within UNLV's Black Mountain Institute and in April 2014, donated two homes to house writers associated with the Institute's Fellows, Humanity Fellows, and City Asylum programs.

"Jim was a close friend from the day we met, a mentor until our last conversation, and a truly remarkable and unique human being," said Dan Klaich, NSHE chancellor. "While some may have found Jim challenging to work with, we enjoyed working together. Jim abhorred mediocrity and loved this state with every fiber of his being. That is a legacy each of us should try and live up to."

A 1956 graduate of Las Vegas High School, Rogers earned degrees in accounting (B.S.) and law (LL.B.) from the University of Arizona and a master of laws (LL.M.) from the University of Southern California. He was a teaching fellow in the law school of the University of Illinois in 1963 and 1964. In 1998 he was awarded a doctor of laws (LL.D.) from the University of Arizona. Rogers also held honorary doctorates from the University of Arizona, Idaho State University, Kentucky Wesleyan, Carroll College and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.