July 29, 2004

Those who knew or worked with Rodger Peters will always remember his dedication to the University of Houston.

Peters, an epidemiologist in the UH Health Center and a UH alumnus, recently passed away. He was 47 years old.

Peters worked for UH since 1990. During his tenure at the university, he was employed by the Office of Student Affairs and recently, the UH Health Center, where he served as a biostatistician and an epidemiologist.

“Rodger worked at the health center for 10 years,” said Floyd Robinson, director of the UH Health Center. “He made an impact here and will be sorely missed.”

According to Robinson, Peters was particularly helpful in analyzing and reporting medical statistical data, managing the center’s Web site, coordinating blood drives and serving as an advisor on disability issues.

Confined to a wheelchair, Peters was all too familiar with the challenges facing disabled staff and students at UH. He had been unable to walk since the age of 6 when he was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a form of muscular dystrophy.

“Having had the experience here as a student in a wheelchair, Rodger was very helpful in directing me as to what that population desired and deserved,” Robinson said.

Peters received a master of science in biology from UH in 1994. At his commencement ceremony, a special guest greeted him.

Former president George H.W. Bush surprised Peters just as he was about to receive his diploma. Peters has long admired Bush for signing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, a civil rights law that prevents discrimination based on disability.

“He came up to me and said that he heard I had something I wanted to tell him,” Peters said in a 1992 interview. “I told him, ‘Thanks. Thanks for the ADA.’”

When he became a staff member, he joined Staff Council where he was instrumental in driving the organization’s communications vehicles, including its Web site.

Peters also was key in assisting with UH’s DisAbility Awareness Week (DAW), an annual campus event.

“Rodger served on the DAW Planning Committee and various work groups,” said Cheryl Amoruso, director of the Center for Students with DisABILITIES. “Rodger was a leading figure in the success of this event every year through his tireless efforts to plan, coordinate and procure the needed funding in order to make it happen.”

Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu