Robert "Bob" A. Wiedemer

Mr. Rogers, as you well know, some journalists and authors are a little late when it comes to hitting their deadlines.  But, boy, even for me, this one is really late.  Sorry, Mr. Rogers, but I’m sure you’d understand.

That’s part of what made you such a good journalism teacher.  You knew how to work with us and how to get the best out of us.  And I think you’d be damn proud of the little group of authors and journalists you helped create.

 Not only did you help a high school newspaper become the first newspaper in America to get an interview with Leon Jaworski after the Watergate hearings, but the person behind that interview, Robert Draper (class of 76) went on to become a New York Times Bestselling book author and a major contributing writer to magazines, including the National Geographic and the New York Times. 

Barbara Burns (now married to Chip Comstock) and my co-features editor for El Gato went on to become a major national political writer and spokesperson.  She also became a Congresswoman representing a Virginia suburb of Washington DC.  If I lived a mile further north in Virginia, she would be my Congresswoman. 

Mr. late deadline himself, me, became the author of several New York Times and Wall Street journal bestselling books.  And, yes I was late on every one of those deadlines!

Even beyond the journalism room, we had some amazing writing talent at Westchester.  Berke Breathed (class of 76) went on to become a Pulitzer Prize winning nationally syndicated cartoonist.  Greg Smith went on to become a national bestselling author of religious books. 

And, Tilman Fertitta (class of 76), who kept all of us at the El Gato in business by being an amazing salesman of ads for the yearbook, went on to do a heck of a job selling fish and chips.  Now CEO of Landry’s Restaurants with over $2.5 billion in annual revenues.

And, speaking of the journalism room, thank you for letting us make that a center of calm craziness amidst the real craziness of producing the Outlaw Senior Wills! 

So, Chuck Rogers, don’t Rest in Peace.  Have as much fun as you possibly can in the Afterlife.  You sure made life more fun and more fulfilling for all of us while you were here on Earth.  We’ll miss you!