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Genave King Rogers -
Phi Mu
Genave King Rogers is a woman of varied interests
and talents as a businesswoman and philanthropist.
In the mid-1930s, Genave pledged Phi Mu and says she was “just
one of the boys” in her business administration classes at the
University of Tulsa. Actually, she was the only woman in the
courses. In 1938, she became the first woman to graduate from TU
with a business administration degree. Based on first-hand
experience, Genave strongly believes in the study of business
law.Genave’s business skills were put
to work when her husband, Leslie Rogers, a Tulsa attorney,
passed away in 1974. She took over management of the |
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couple’s investments. She maintains an office and
keeps up with business news. She is a member of the National
Federation of Independent Business Professionals, founder of the
Petroleum Investment Club Society and a member of the
elite Oxford Club for major stock investors.
In her husband’s memory, Genave established the Leslie Rogers
Memorial Scholarship Fund. It awards 10 merit-based scholarships
each year to TU students who are members of the
fraternity/sorority system. She is a member of Phi Mu
Foundation’s elite 1852 Society and the library at the Phi Mu
national headquarters bears her name. Her interest in
establishing these scholarships stems from having received a
sorority scholarship while in college. Although it was small,
it helped her so much she wanted to provide the same opportunity
to other students. In 1995, she established the Rogers Rookie
Challenge Grant at TU to encourage donating for recent
graduates. She matches these donations
Genave’s Phi Mu membership has been a lifelong commitment. She
continues to participate in the local alumnae group attending
and hosting occasional meetings. She participates nationally as
a member of Phi Mu Foundation. In recent years, an elite group
of special sisters established the 1852 Society within the
foundation. These members contribute $1,852 annually to
recognize the founding date of Phi Mu. She is a member of that
group.
Genave has received a plethora of honors. In 1999, she was named
as the College of Business Administration’s Outstanding Business
Alumnae. In 2000, she was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnae
of TU, where the Business Law Center is named for her. She has
established the Genave King Rogers Endowment for Business Law at
the university.
In Tulsa, Genave has befriended and been involved in several
community organizations including the Riverfield Country Day
School, Tulsa Boys Home, Boy Scouts of America, the Tulsa Day
Center for the Homeless, the United Way, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa
Zoo, the Oklahoma Heritage Association and the Central High
School Foundation.
A friend once described her as “quite an impressive woman, ahead
of her time in her thinking and in her ambition to be
independent and help other people.” Her Phi Mu sisters are proud
of her spirit and generosity and feel privileged to have her as
Phi Mu’s Woman of the Year.
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