John Rogers, Jr. (Finding Aid)

John Rogers, Jr.

1958 -

Favorite Color: Orange

Favorite Food: French Fries

Favorite Time of Year: Summer

Favorite Vacation Spot: Rancho Santa Fe, California

Interview Length: 166 minutes

Interview Date(s): June 13, 2002, July 17, 2002

Interview Location(s): The HistoryMakers, Chicago, Illinois

Abstract

John Rogers, Jr. remembers parents and grandparents and shares details about their lives and backgrounds. He then talks about the community where he grew up in Chicago and his earliest memories there. He gives details about his home life and the examples of success that his parent's set for him. Rogers recalls friends and classmates during his formative years in school as well as his aspirations to become a basketball coach. Rogers remembers his first job as a vendor at Comiskey Park. John Rogers, Jr. talks about changes he had to mentally go through in order to succeed in high school and then discusses his interests and successes there. He explains the decision-making process he went through while looking at various colleges to attend. Rogers talks about how playing basketball at the highest level possible was very important to him and then describes Princeton University Coach Pete Carril's style of basketball. Rogers details about lessons he learned from Carril, lessons that transcended the court and into his life. He then touches on the theme of teamwork in sports and how, if taught properly, can be an invaluable trait to have. John Rogers, Jr. details the coaching career of Pete Carril and then mentions some of his college teammates. John Rogers, Jr. details his transition from college into the stock market and how he got his first job with William Blair. Being a young and innovative broker, he relied on non-traditional ways of sourcing clients and talks about his strategies. Rogers recalls the impetueus behind attending graduate school. Taking cues from other successful brokers, Rogers talks about his reasoning for branching out and starting his own capital management company. Using a "patient investor" model, Ariel Capital Management Company makes great strides during its' first three years in business. Rogers recalls team members that helped the company succeed in its early years. John Rogers, Jr. narrates photographs that document his life. Next, Rogers recalls advice he received from various people while attempting to gain new accounts for Ariel Capital Management Company. He talks about Ariel's growth over the years and about people who assisted him along the way either by funding or serving on his board. John Rogers, Jr. explains how his parents encouraged and aided him in his climb up the business ladder. He then discusses how Ariel Capital Management Company played their cards during the country's hard financial times and were still able to succeed. He then talks about different personnel changes at Ariel during the 1980s and how the company began to see more competition. Rogers then recalls how his business and civic duties both came into popularity during the same time. John Rogers, Jr. discusses his time as president of the Chicago Park District Board. John Rogers, Jr. talks about the six years he spent as chairman of the Chicago Park District. He discusses the highs and lows of the job and lessons he learned through his experiences there. He then describes how the Ariel Community Academy started and of those involved in the management of the school. He then talks about Ariel's move to partner with the Calvert Group, their working relationship and then how the two companies parted ways. Next, Rogers goes into detail about Ariel's slow and steady growth and how bull and bear markets affected the company's success. John Rogers, Jr. considers his future plans and then discusses the rise of black's involvement in the stock market. John Rogers, Jr. talks about his switch from the Republican to Democratic party. He then shares his hopes and concerns for the black community and then considers his legacy and discusses family values.

83 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)