Roger was born in Grand Junction and attended school in Uravan, Nucla, and ultimately graduated from Montrose High School in 1980. After graduation, he left Montrose to pursue a career in construction. Roger was employed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for 23 years—beginning as a heavy equipment mechanic and progressing to Civil Engineer Project Manager. While working full time, he attended the University of Colorado at Denver and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 2006. He also enlisted and proudly served in the United States Naval Reserves as an Equipment Operator 2nd Class serving eight years in the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1217 (Seabee) in Buckley Field Aurora and Fort Carson, Colorado. Roger and his wife Linda Kelly have five wonderful children, five beautiful granddaughters, and two grandsons. Roger has served on the Montrose Planning Commission and he is currently a member of the Western Slope Patriot Guard Riders.