AJC editor, columnist Prentis Rogers dies

Prentis Rogers, a longtime sports editor and columnist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, died Tuesday of complications following surgery. He was 50.

Rogers was a radio and TV sports columnist for the newspaper, making appearances on PBS to talk about television sports coverage. He was also assistant sports editor for baseball, NBA, NHL and boxing coverage.

Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sports, said Rogers was a remarkably thorough, fair and nice man in a business not necessarily known for those three qualities.

Rogers graduated from Michigan State University and started in the newspaper business with the Atlanta Daily World. The Journal-Constitution hired him in 1979.

In Rogers media column, he humanized the people he wrote about, athletes and broadcasters, said Journal-Constitution assistant sports editor David Davidson.

Funeral plans were incomplete Wednesday. Survivors include his wife, Yvonne Manning Rogers, a son, Devere Rogers, and Rogers mother, Mattie Elaine Rogers, all of East Point.