By John Temple LigonTemple@TheColumbiaStar.com

MG Nelson Lacy announces the appointment of BG Eugene Rogers as Chief of Staff of S.C.State Guard

MG Nelson C. Lacy, Commander of the South Carolina State Guard announced the selection of Eugene F. Rogers to the post of Chief of Staff of the SC State Guard and Rogers’s promotion to Brigadier General.

SC Adjutant General Stanhope Spears; Rogers’s wife, Elsie Rast Stuart; and his son Eugene F. Rogers Jr. pinned the stars on Rogers at a brief ceremony at the Summit Club on December 2.

The SC State Guard is a direct descendant of the Militia beginning at Albemarle Point, Charles Town, 1670. The Militia repulsed French and Spanish invasions, attacked St. Augustine in 1706, and won the Yemassee Indian War in 1715. The Militia invaded Spanish Florida once more in 1740 and repulsed frontier Indian attacks from 1716 to 1761, including the Cherokee Indian Wars.

During the American Revolution, the six regular regiments of S.C. forces, raised in 1775, were lost to the British at the fall of Charles Town in 1780. The many S.C. Militia units that had provided defense of the state from 1775 to 1780 were reformed into three brigades under General Francis Marion in the Lowcountry, General Thomas Sumter in the Midlands, and General Andrew Pickens in the Piedmont. These served until the departure of the British in 1782.

Adjutant General Stanhope Spears pins stars on newly promoted BG Eugene F. Rogers, Chief of Staff of S.C. Guard Rogers is the founding partner of the law firm Rogers, Townsend, and Thomas, which was created in 1990 by the merger of Rogers, Thomas, Cleveland, Koon, Waters & Tally with Sherrill and Townsend. With offices headquartered in Columbia, the firm has 38 attorneys engaged in a diversified practice. The firm moved recently to Synergy Business Park, 220 Executive Center Drive.

Medal of Honor Recipient Charles Murray joins Gayle Eckstrom, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom, and BG Eugene F. Rogers. Congressman Joe Wilson and Elsie Rast Stuart celebrate with BG Eugene F. Rogers as Chief of Staff of the S.C. State Guard. Colonel Charles Murray and Lt. John Baker, recipients of Medal of Honor, and Mrs. Baker help BG Rogers celebrate his promotion. Tim Donahue and Dot Ryall join Rogers at the Summit Club. Former S.C. State Guard Commander Eli Wishart and managing partner at RTT, Samuel Waters celebrate with Rogers. BillDukes, owner of Willie’s and member of the S.C. State Guard Foundation congratulate Rogers. Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and his wife Gayle, drink a toast (non alcoholic punch) to Rogers. Colonel Charles Murray, Medal of Honor Recipient congratulates Rogers as John Lester looks on. Harvey Rosen gives Elsie Rast Stuart a hug at the promotion party for Rogers. Eugene F. Rogers Jr., son, and Lucy Rogers, sister, share in the celebration. Former Senator, Comptroller General, and Commander of the State Guard, James Lander congratulates Rogers and his wife Elsie.