Rogers, Thomas, 1927-2007

Thomas Hunton Rogers was an author and educator, probably best known for his first novel, The Pursuit of Happiness. Born in Chicago, June 23, 1927, he served in the United States Army Air Force 1945-1946 before earning a B.A. from Harvard and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Iowa. He taught at the University of Chicago before beginning a long career as a member of the faculty of the Pennsylvania State University in 1961. His first novel, The Pursuit of Happiness, was nominated for a National Book Award; he would publish few novels, specializing in wryly observed coming-of-age tales dealing frankly but gently with scatalogical topics. He also wrote poetry and criticism. Thomas Rogers died April 1, 2007, in State College, Pennsylvania.