Lanny was born in Kaufman County, Texas on May 7, 1935, the son of John Leonard and Ethel Mae Rogers. When Lanny was 12, the family relocated to Dallas, Texas where he attended school. In 1952,
Lanny joined the U.S. Navy and was on active duty aboard the cruiser, USS Northampton, until his tour of duty was completed in 1956. Lanny married his sweetheart, Jean Sams, in 1956 and they enjoyed more than 55 years of marriage while raising their three sons.
Upon completion of his military service, Lanny and Jean settled in Dallas and he began a career with Braniff Airlines as an aircraft mechanic. He became active in the labor union at Braniff and was eventually promoted to Business Agent with the International Association of Machinists. During this tenure, he was President of IAM District 146, and represented thousands of airline and related industry workers until his retirement from the union in 1985.
At this time, Lanny and Jean relocated to Houston, where he founded Eastex Auditorium Bingo Hall, which supported numerous charities in the Houston area for many years.
In 1986 Lanny purchased a local motorcoach company, Gray Line Tours of Houston. Under his leadership, Gray Line grew to over 100 motorcoaches providing quality nation-wide motorcoach transportation. In 1996, Lanny sold Gray Line to Coach USA and remained with the company for two more years.
In 1998, Lanny founded First Class Tours operating one motorcoach. At present, First Class operates a fleet of more than 25 coaches serving destinations nationwide. Lanny was an active member of the United Motorcoach Association, American Bus Association, Student & Youth Travel Association, Texas Travel Industry Association, and Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Lanny is preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Ethel. He is survived by his wife, Jean, son Lanny Gerald Rogers, Jr. and wife Cheryl; son Gregory Bryan and wife Deirdre, and son Jeffrey Scott and wife Maggie. Also surviving him are his grandchildren Joshua, Christopher, Jennifer, Nicole, Nathan, Jonathan, Jarret and Ashley Kate. He also leaves behind brother, Johnny Malcolm and wife Katherine Grace, sister Joan Williams and husband Rodney, sister Phyllis Unrein and husband Pat, sister Patsy Johnson and husband Audie and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
Lanny was truly an entrepreneur at heart, and the family wishes to thank everyone who has been a part of Gray Line of Houston and First Class Tours over the years for your support and dedication in building these companies. The family is also very grateful to the nursing and physician staff at Northeast Memorial Hermann Hospital who cared for him.
Visitation will be from 5-7PM on Sunday, March 11th. Funeral service will be held at 11AM on Monday, March 12th. Both at Brookside Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Brookside Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Bus Association Foundation, www.buses.org/ABA-Foundation/Donate
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.13.0