Rodgers ‘a quiet yet powerful force for good’

Beyond owning several local radio stations, Dave Rodgers shared his voice, time and money with organizations supporting the arts, nature, education and other community needs.

“Dave always wanted the best for everyone around him and he LOVED radio,” said Rick Duncan, Whitewater Broadcasting’s assistant general manager and G101.3 Morning Show host. “Being part of the fabric of the communities that we serve was the only way that Dave would have it for his stations.”

Rodgers, 87, died Friday, May 16, after a battle with cancer, according to his obituary.

Duncan said that Rodgers’ community involvement was why he was so generous in his philanthropy.

“He believed in the saying that if you have the ability to help, then you have the responsibility to help,” Duncan said. “And Dave helped a lot. He was one of a kind.”

Duncan and his wife are awaiting Federal Communications Commission approval to be finalized for their purchase of Whitewater Broadcasting. He expects that to be completed soon. The Duncans and Rodgers had been discussing the purchase for several years because Rodgers wanted to ensure the stations remained local, Duncan said. Rodgers had managed the stations for more than 50 years.

Through the years, Rodgers received awards such as Wayne County Foundation Charles A. Rodefeld Award (2022), Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce Art Vivian Distinguished Community Leader Award (2017), Junior Achievement of Eastern Indiana Business Hall of Fame Inductee (2019) and Nature Conservancy Volunteer of the Year (2008).

Richmond Art Museum was among many organizations noting Rodgers’ generosity, such as offering matching gifts for the Palette to Palate event to create greater fundraising impact.

RAM leaders noted that Rodgers often preferred to remain anonymous about his giving.

Most recently, he quietly funded the mural project in McGuire Memorial Hall Auditorium, completed by RHS alumna Amy Rheinhardt in 2024, which showcases the industrial and artistic heritage of Wayne County that allowed for the formation of the museum and other cultural institutions.

During the museum’s 2017 renovation, he helped RAM purchase temporary gallery walls that created unique gallery spaces and displayed artwork in the foyer, offering much needed flexibility.

Rodgers also was a Richmond Symphony Orchestra board member for nearly 30 years and considered the RSO’s recent success one of his proudest accomplishments, according to executive director Monica Koechlein.

He steered the board through many lean years, encouraging fiscal responsibility and a focus on the endowment. Rodgers led the endowment committee for many years and stewarded investments wisely. Most recently, he served on the search committee for a new music director.

“Dave was a friend to the staff and musicians alike,” Koechlein said. “He was known to always ‘do more’ while requesting anonymity. We thank Dave for the immeasurable impact he has had on the Richmond Symphony and so many in Wayne County.”

Rodgers joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County’s trustees in 2021, and club officials call him a “passionate advocate for youth, a quiet yet powerful force for good, and a steadfast believer in the power of community.”

Whitewater Broadcasting received the clubs’ Earl & Kathryn Mayer Award in 2019 for generous support, and Rodgers had been recognized for giving milestones as well.

“Whether offering thoughtful mentorship over a good lunch, always with dessert, or lending a listening ear, Rodgers believed in honest conversations and authentic connections,” according to a BGCWC statement. “His presence left an indelible mark on the organization and on the many lives he touched.”