Columbia attorney Gene Rogers hung a shingle for the first time in 1952, when the office was just a secretary, Frank Taylor, and himself.

One of his first clients was a walk- in who needed help with inherited property near Lugoff. Rogers took more time than he should, covering all the bases. When he concluded, his new client began to leave the office. Rogers said, "Before you leave, let me tell you my time and advice you took will cost you $10."

"Well, I ain't a- taking it, so I ain't a- paying it," declared the walk- in client.

With the number of lawyers approaching 50, Columbia law firm Rogers Townsend & Thomas might put a crescent sign over its main office entry door proclaiming the "House That Gene Built." About two years ago, Rogers slowed his office obligations a bit to take the title, "Of counsel."

Rogers was born in Finklea Crossroads, S.C., near Green Sea, where his father was a sharecropper. Rogers began grammar school in Mullins, transferred to Gapway, then to Nichols, later graduating high school in Marian in June 1946.

Besides working the farm, his part- time job while in high school was at Eagles 5&10 in Mullins.

His 17th birthday was August 7, 1946, and Rogers joined the Marine Corps the next day on Aug. 8.

Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, Rogers enrolled at USC in a pre- law curriculum while also participating in the Marine Corps Reserves. He soon shifted to the Air Force ROTC program, and he stayed with the Air Force through both college and law school, which he was able to finish on a fast- track well ahead of schedule.

Rogers was admitted to the S.C. Bar in June 1952 at age 22.

With the Korean War looming over ROTC students, Rogers volunteered for active duty but was never called up.

In 1952, when Rogers began his practice with Frank Taylor on Washington Street, he imposed on himself a personal policy of attending civic meetings as a means to do a little public good while doing a little business development.

From the beginning in his professional career, Rogers has held close three basic rules: (1) Do what you say you're going to do. (2) Do it when you say you're going to do it. (3) Charge a fair and reasonable fee.

He went on his own in 1960 in the Barringer Building on the southeast corner of Washington and Main. Between 1956 and 1958, Rogers taught at the USC Law School, where one of his students was Greenville's Dick Riley, former U.S. secretary of education and former governor of S.C. Rogers also taught Heyward McDonald, the late Richland County politician, with whom he formed a partnership in 1961.

In the early 1960s, through local Ford dealer Robert Pulliam, Rogers became the general counsel for the Columbia Airport. With his Columbia airport experience, Rogers attracted related business in matters concerning airports and airplanes.

Rogers married Sara Dodson in December 1954. They had two children. His son Gene has a PhD from Princeton and is a tenured professor of philosophical theology at UNC- Greensboro. His daughter Carol is married to a Greek orthopedic surgeon, and they live in Greece with Rogers' three- year- old grandson Michael Eugene.

Sara Dodson Rogers died in 1999, and in 2003, Rogers married Elsie Rast Stuart, former S.C. Representative for Lexington County.

In December 2006, Rogers was promoted to Brigadier General in the S.C. State Guard, a state militia with ties to Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox of the Revolutionary War.

With the State Guard and The Citadel, convention chair Rogers is pulling together resources to hold the 2010 Medal of Honor Convention in Charleston. Every living recipient of the Medal of Honor - and there are more than 90 - with the capabilities to make it is expected to attend. S.C. has six MOH recipients with close connections to the state.

The proceedings are from Wednesday, September 29, through Sunday, October 3. The main event is the 1,500- seat Patriot's Banquet on Saturday night, October 2.

The MOH Convention is budgeted for $1 million in private support, and about half has been pledged. For further information contact Eugene F. Rogers, convention chair, 771.7900, rogers@rttlaw. com.