Roger Leon Hecht

Dr. Roger Hecht went to be with his Lord on July 14, 2011, following a lengthy illness. He was born January 17, 1926 in rural Smith County, Kansas, where he grew up and graduated from Kensington High School. He was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Cora Panter Hecht, and his sister Dorothy Hecht Snyder. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Amy Pearl. Hecht, his son, David Hecht (Beth) of Maryland, his daughter, Ruth E. Wilson (Martin) of California, grandson, Steven Hecht, granddaughter, Karen Hecht, sister, Elcie Smith, 5 nieces and 5 nephews. He taught in a rural school for 2 years before enrolling at Kansas State College of Agriculture & Applied Sciences, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and journalism. He also taught veterans in Phillipsburg, Kansas. He was a 4H Club Agent in the Agriculture Extension Service in Paola and Topeka, Kansas. He earned his MS in Extension Education and his PHD in Sociology from Colorado State University. He taught Sociology at Kansas State College in Pittsburg, KS, followed by 20 years at ETSU in Johnson City, retiring in 1991. He married Amy Virginia Pearl of Chamois, Missouri on July 14, 1956, one year after meeting at a workshop on Human Relations and Human Development held at Cornell University for one extension agent from each state. His special interests were camping, working with youth, especially at Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he was a member and an elder, traveling, photography, and planning and building their family residences. He enjoyed woodworking, making furniture for family, friends and his church. In his retirement, he had an enjoyable worthwhile 8-year experience mentoring Bradley Barnet in the Big Brother program. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 603 Sunset, Johnson City, on Saturday, July 16, 2011, at 7:00 P.M., followed by a reception with family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church.