Roger's father was Ivan Brown, born in 1911 in rural Fairbury, where he farmed his entire life. Roger's great grandfather bought the farm in 1882. Roger's mother lived south of rural Fairbury; her father came from KY. He farmed about 160 acres. Roger's great-great-grandparents on his father's side came from Scotland, to New York, and then to Illinois. His great great grandparents on his mother's side came from Germany to "the land of opportunity." Roger has three sisters - Delores, Marjorie, and Janet.
EDUCATION
They all graduated from Forrest-Strawn-Wing high school. When his oldest sister started it was a one room schoolhouse. In 1946 it consolidated. All four siblings graduated from Illinois State University. Marjorie's degree was in physical education, the other two had degrees in elementary education. Roger's was in applied science and technology in vocational agriculture. He was influenced by his high school ag teacher.
CHILDHOOD WORK
When Roger was four or five, his chores included feeding grain to the milk cows. In the late 1940s, his father's equipment was horses and horse drawn equipment. As Roger got older, Saturday mornings were always spent cleaning the barn out. In the spring and late fall he would have to watch the pigs when they farrowed. They had to sit up with the pigs with heat lamps and keeping the baby pigs warm. As he got older, he would help run the equipment in the fields.
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Roger started school in the first grade at Wing grade school. Kindergarten was not offered. Attended Forrest Junior High and then Forrest High School, graduated with 56 people in his class and was one of the largest classes.
