From:  Randy Kafka

    Date:  July 31, 2019

Subject:  Re: [AFVN] Roger Carroll 

Frank, 
Thanks for sharing.  Similar to the stories he passed to me during one of the AFRTS conferences oh so many years ago...it was at that event I got to see how he really liked Gene Price, oh, and Willard. 
hang tuff, 
Randy


   From:  Marc Yablonka

    Date:  July 30, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll's Current Whereabouts  

I think Gene and his wife Janet have it, Frank, but I'll take it just in case if you are okay with giving it to me. It's thanks to Roger that I got into radio in the first place back in the 70s. Marc 
Marc Phillip Yablonka

 

A Short Historical Footnote:


Roger Carroll's older brother, Rutkin, died fighting with the 9th Infantry in Germany during the battle for the Remangen bridgehead in March 1945.  [ Information from Ken Kalish, February 4, 2016.]

   From:  Steve Sevits

   Date:  July 31, 2019

Subject:  Re: [AFVN] Roger Carroll 

Google has several excellent biographical entries about Roger Carroll and his accomplishments. 
When Roger's son died I made a donation in memory of him to a very special educational institution.  Although we never met and he didn't know me, Roger was kind enough to call me in appreciation.  Since he approved of the institution to which I made the previous contribution I'm sending another donation to the same institution in memory of Roger. 
The world has lost a great talent and true gentleman, but we are all better that he walked among us for a while. 
Steve


   From:  Marc Yablonka

    Date:  July 30, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll's Current Whereabouts 

Does anyone happen to know a hospital address where Roger Carroll currently is? I received a note from Gene Price, his friend and fellow broadcaster at AFRTS L.A. for many years. Gene emailed Roger a couple weeks ago and did not hear back. He'd like to send Roger a card. 
Marc Phillip Yablonka

 

   From:  Tim Abney (Posted on Facebook)

   Date:  August 4, 2019

Subject:  Re: [AFVN] Roger Carroll 

It's been several days now since my good friend Roger Carroll passed away.

To say I'll miss him is a gross understatement.  I'll really miss the hours we spent on the phone solving the problems of the world as only two old guys can.

Never a phone call passed that Roger didn't mention how much he missed Beverly.  And that's where I can find peace with this because I know they're together again.

God Bless you both.

​The following photos were part of Tim's post: 


   From:  Steve Sevits

    Date:  July 30, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll's Current Whereabouts 

A hospital address would be good if someone could furnish it please. 
Steve

 

   From:  Frank Rogers

    Date:  July 31, 2019

Subject:  Re: [AFVN] Roger Carroll 

We, who listened to RC, remember he changed the opening of his Christmas shows to, “Hi, I’m Roger Records and I play Carols.” 
I don’t know if y’all recall that Roger’s brother died in the Battle of the Bulge and his father had a heart attack upon receiving the news. I sent RC two commemorative medals for his brother’s  memorial display. 
Roger turned down an Army commission taking a high Sergeant ranking  so he could be “on air.” 
In civilian life he left his Roger Carroll name in the studio, using his real name elsewhere to avoid crazed fans like one who shot dead one of his on air friends. 
Last spoke to him on the phone in February. 
Frank


  From:  Ken Kalish

    Date:  July 30, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll  

That’s sad to hear.  Roger is a real gem.

 

     From:  Larry F. Rogers

     Date:  September 14, 2019

Subject:  RC Show Ends

With the death of Roger Carroll on 31 July 2019, the site programmer Thom Wetson has decided to close the web site on 15 Sept 2019. 
The site consisted of mostly Roger Carroll, Jim Pewter, and Tom Campbell-Stateside AFRTS RU/RP shows, plus a smattering of the Lawrence Welk Radio Show syndication produced by Roger Carroll and Mark Blinoff (former KMPC PD).  Also other AFRTS RU/RP shows were featured including Gene Price and Roland Bynum.  To provide more variety for the Roger Carroll Shows,  Thom has been providing non-consecutive a and b sides from closely related time periods.  This is so that the music is consistent for the time period, and not apparently shifting from MOR/Big Band to hard rock to the distress of the listener. Most a and b sides are for the same day-of-the-week, but not always.  Also some times two b sides are featured in tandem?  On about 1 Sept 2019, the audio for the site has been blocked (by the browser) but not the site graphics.  I don't know if overseas web viewers were ever blocked by a geographical restriction, but everyone is now. 
Don Browne FEN Tokyo 1969-1971

   From:  Frank Rogers

    Date:  April 27, 2015

Subject:  Roger Carroll Shows

AFRTS policy was - and I suppose still is- to destroy canned shows after a length of time.  I can't tell you how many I destroyed in Korea, including those of Roger Carroll.  I shoulda kept some.  On the midnight shift I took a break from my live local show to replay  Roger Carroll from 4 to 5 AM.  I learned a lot about the people in music from listening.  I used the time to go over to our "kitchen" and make up half a dozen eggs, bacon, toast and other fixins. I had three soup bowls of ice cream a day back then.  I'm sure that did not contribute to my diabetes as it was only discovered when I was past 60.

 

   From:  Dick Ellis

    Date:  July 31, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll's Current Whereabouts 

Roger passed away last night surrounded by his family!   

Dickie

 The Following Messages are Related to Roger Carroll's Passing on July 30, 2019

 

   From:  Dick Ellis

    Date:  July 31, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll Passes  

Randy tipped me this morning that Roger may be in the hospital.  I did some research and found he was indeed in ICU ...I have just found that he passed away last night.   His family was there with him in Long Beach, California. I have not talked with Roger on the phone in a while...but I did get an email from him a couple of weeks ago. Prayers for the loss of "one of us!" Have a great reunion everyone....sorry I can't be with you!   

Dickie


   From:  Marc Yablonka

    Date:  July 30, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll's Whereabouts  

Alcon, 
I just received the following via LinkedIn from Thom Whetston, who mans the AFN blog and blogs Roger's and other's old shows. The only hospitals I know of in Long Beach (CA) are the VA and Long Beach Memorial Hospital: 
Marc, I just know he's in the hospital in Long Beach, was admitted as Kohlman Rutkin, 
Marc Phillip Yablonka


   From:  Frank Rogers

    Date:  July 30, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll's Current Whereabouts 

Can’t help with that.  I only have home mailing address & phone number. 
Frank

 

 Obituary from Talkers Magazine

[Received from Mike Jackson, August 2019.]

   From:  Dick Ellis

    Date:  July 31, 2019

Subject:  Re: Home Address for Roger 

Roger's Home Address is: 
Roger Carroll 
49  59th Place Long Beach, California  90803 
Dickie


   From:  Dick Ellis

    Date:  July 31, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll Passes  

Randy tipped me this morning that Roger may be in the hospital.  I did some research and found he was indeed in ICU ...I have just found that he passed away last night.   His family was there with him in Long Beach, California. I have not talked with Roger on the phone in a while...but I did get an email from him a couple of weeks ago. Prayers for the loss of "one of us!" Have a great reunion everyone....sorry I can't be with you!   

Dickie


   From:  Ann Kelsey

    Date:  April 27, 2015

Subject:  Welcome 1

I listened to Roger on KMPC through my teen years growing up in SoCal and when I got to Vietnam and heard him on AFVN it was like really and truly being home for just a little while. "A touch of home in the combat zone" was what those of us who worked in morale and recreation programs--the donut dollies, Army librarians, entertainment, crafts, Rec centers--tried hard to provide. You folks at AFVN contributed a great deal to that, and Roger, you were an integral part of that effort. You can't imagine how much it meant. 
Ann

   From:  Ray Profeta

    Date:  April 27, 2015

Subject:  Welcome 1

Ken you said it better than I could have ever!  As usual!  Roger you are one of us!  Hope to see you next year 


   From:  Michael McNally

    Date:  April 27, 2015

Subject:  Does Roger Carroll Have a Wikipedia Page?

According to IMDb, Roger Carroll started at KABC Hollywood in 1948, the year I was born. I have enjoyed hearing his voice for so many years. But I can't find a Wikipedia page for Roger. If someone can find Roger's Wiki, could you please post it. In the meantime, here's his IMDb page.

IMDb -- Roger Carroll

   From:  Ken Kalish

    Date:  April 27, 2015

Subject:  Welcome 1

Roger, we love ya. 
Truth be told, you spent more airtime on AFRTS than many of us here. How have you been?  Sounding a bit down.  You can call me any time, my friend.  You probably have my old number, so this is my new cell number: 612-819-5823.  You’d be safe up here.  There aren’t any Minnesota 60+ women who’d want a California guy.  They can’t do the surfing thing, and the fish out your way are far too small. 
Want a llama? They make great listeners, and never talk back. 
86 Years?  Hell, with the right math, 8+6 is only 14.  Pull a Jack Benny on us and stay 49 forever. 
Please, Roger, do make it out to Raleigh to be with us next year.  It turns out we record players don’t rank all that high in the galaxy of fame.  Last time I asked Chris Noel to join us in Sandy Bagel, she said only if we paid all of her expenses. 
You’re more like family.  We’ve shared your sorrows and loss, celebrated your birthdays, and enjoyed the levity you brought to us in a far and unwelcoming place.  The first time I heard “Hi! I’m Roger Christmas, and I play carols!” I was about 20 miles south of Vinh Long helping load body bags on an ancient Mike 8 boat - 9th Infantry guys who had been caught on the wrong side of a canal. 
I doubt there is one person frequenting this group who has not, at one time or another, soberly considered the possibility that the last few minutes of some Marine, soldier, airman, or sailor’s life were spent listening to our voices.  We sounded like the gang back home, like friends who planned to meet again soon.  You, though, carried the mantle of dad.  You let us know that someone older than 21 wanted us to be comforted.  Yes, you had all of ten or twenty years of seniority, but ours was a very young war.  In the delta, my crew called the 2nd Class Gunner’s Mate who drove our boat “Pappy.”  He was all of 28 in 1967. 
I, for one, want you to know right now that you have been a combination of comfort and chagrin in our lives.  Comfort in the presentations you gave us for years, and chagrin in some of the brief things you have posted here.  Above all, you have been a friend.  Yes, an unseen and unmet friend, but a close friend.  Please, take the time to visit us often.  You are one of the markers by which we measure our own mortality.  So long as our richly baritone, sometimes funny and sometimes prickly friend is with us, we can continue to believe ourselves again  both youthful and immortal. 
It’s going to be many years before I get back to California.  Although I can ward off thirst with a sufficient supply of brandy, I cannot exist without a daily shower.  If necessary, we will outfit a conex box with furniture and wine, then ship you via Panama to Dickie’s mansion where you may bathe without water restrictions.  Of course, his pond has alligators so swimming is a spectator sport out his way. 
Ken

   From:  Roger Carroll

    Date:  April 26, 2015

Subject:  Welcome 1

I did wear my uniform the first day I arrived at AFRS.

   From:  Roger Carroll

    Date:  April 26, 2015

Subject:  Welcome 1
Hi,

I hope all my AFVN friends are well. I keep up with you guys with your posts.  It's been tough Beverly has been gone 3 years it's like yesterday. Our number one son Steven has been gone 5 years, Melanoma cancer.  He would have been 50 years old  This past March 19th we would have celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary. The widows on the Peninsula where I now live in our beach house keep calling my daughter [about] what's wrong with your Dad, he is antisocial. No dates--not interested. Oh [when] I went to bed Oct 6 I was 85; woke up in the morning I was 86--picked up a whole year over night. The pix Navy guy, Hal Oiler and myself, we never wore uniforms.  Stay WELL MY FRIENDS YOU SERVED YOUR COUNTRY WELL!  

I thank you

Individual Photo Albums & Stories

Roger Carroll - Disk Jockey

Roger was not with AFVN, but he was a Military (US Army) DJ for several years with AFRS in Los Angeles in the 1950's and then as a civilian DJ with the same organization.  His shows were prerecorded for broadcasting on AFVN and other military stations for many years.  Anyone who was in the service and overseas between the early 1950's and the 1980's or so must surely remember his name.

   From:  Dick Ellis

    Date:  July 31, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll's Current Whereabouts 

Roger passed away last night surrounded by his family!   

Dickie


   From:  Dick Ellis

   Date:  August 1, 2019

Subject:  Re: [AFVN] Roger Carroll 

I was born at the same time Rogers brother was killed in Europe...and Roger use to tell me I was sent to replace him!  He was a good soul. 

Dickie


   From:  afrts@live.com (Thom Whetson?)

    Date:  July 30, 2019

Subject:  Roger Carroll

Roger is in palliative care in the ICU.  They can only try to keep him comfortable at this point.  For the last few years we've been doing internet things together.  He was still very sharp and a friend. 
I'm praying.