T. Gary Rogers
Encyclopedia
T. Gary Rogers is an entrepreneur and executive who acquired and built Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream into a major company. Rogers was formerly a director of Levi Strauss & Co.
and he served as the first non-family Chairman of their board in 155 years. Rogers attended Harvard Business School
with Bob Haas
who preceded him as Chairman of Levi Strauss. Rogers retired from the Levi's Board of Directors on December 3, 2009. He became chairman of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco for a term beginning January 1, 2009.
Rogers purchased Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream
with his business partner, Rick Cronk
, in 1977. He was the CEO and he and Cronk were managers and principal shareholders of Dreyer's for almost 30 years, until the company was acquired by Nestlé
in 2006.
Rogers is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
from the Boy Scouts of America
. He is the brother of James D. Rogers
, who is also an Eagle Scout and Distinguished Eagle Scout. Their brother Don is also an Eagle Scout, as are seven of their sons, for a total of ten Eagle Scouts across two generations of this family.
Rogers is an alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley
. He has been a substantial financial contributor to the university, particularly the rowing
program. He recently gave a donation to build the new boathouse complex, which is now named in his honor.
Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co. is a privately held American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's brand of denim jeans. It was founded in 1853 when Levi Strauss came from Buttenheim, Franconia, to San Francisco, California to open a west coast branch of his brothers' New York dry goods business...
and he served as the first non-family Chairman of their board in 155 years. Rogers attended Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
with Bob Haas
Bob Haas
Robert D. Haas is the former Chairman of Levi Strauss & Co., son of Walter A. Haas, Jr., and the great-great-grandnephew ofthe company's founder, Levi Strauss.- Biography :...
who preceded him as Chairman of Levi Strauss. Rogers retired from the Levi's Board of Directors on December 3, 2009. He became chairman of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco for a term beginning January 1, 2009.
Rogers purchased Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream
Dreyer's
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Nestlé, is a United States-based producer of ice cream and frozen yogurt had originated in 1928 as Edy's Grand Ice Cream, a Northern California business under a partnership of Joseph Edy and William Dreyer. In 1947 the partnership dissolved....
with his business partner, Rick Cronk
Rick Cronk
William F. "Rick" Cronk is an American businessman who was co-owner and president of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream. He is a former national president of the Boy Scouts of America and the outgoing chairman of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.-Business:After...
, in 1977. He was the CEO and he and Cronk were managers and principal shareholders of Dreyer's for almost 30 years, until the company was acquired by Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
in 2006.
Rogers is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
from the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. He is the brother of James D. Rogers
James D. Rogers
James D. "Jim" Rogers is the President and CEO of Kampgrounds of America . He currently lives in Billings, MT and Reno, NV. He has a wife, Sandy, and three sons: Ben, Judd, and Tyler–all three are Eagle Scouts.-Large Scout family:...
, who is also an Eagle Scout and Distinguished Eagle Scout. Their brother Don is also an Eagle Scout, as are seven of their sons, for a total of ten Eagle Scouts across two generations of this family.
Rogers is an alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He has been a substantial financial contributor to the university, particularly the rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
program. He recently gave a donation to build the new boathouse complex, which is now named in his honor.