Ron Rogers, a respected country radio executive whose career spanned programming, sales, management, and ownership, died of natural causes on Dec. 30 in Austin, TX. He was 89. Rogers was part of an ownership group that sold Austin’s highly rated country stations, including KVET and KASE to Capstar Broadcasting Partners in 1998.

Rogers began his broadcasting career as a student at the University of Texas, working at KTBC AM-FM-TV. Over the decades that followed, he held senior roles across Texas country radio, including Program Director at WACO, Sales Manager at KNOW, and General Manager at KOKE. He later became president and co-owner of several influential stations, including KLAW, KVET, and KASE, helping shape formats, talent development, and business strategy in multiple markets.

Within the industry, Rogers was widely honored for lifetime achievement. He was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2004 and later inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame by the Country Radio Broadcasters at the 2012 Country Radio Seminar, one of the format’s highest honors.

Rogers’ work helped define modern country radio operations and influenced generations of programmers, managers, and executives who followed in his footsteps.