Early Life and Education
Born and raised in the small town of Thomasville, Alabama, Wayne Rogers spent most of his formative years living in a single-wide trailer next door to his grandparents. His grandmother, Velma Dement, was an avid reader of the Montgomery Advertiser and played a pivotal role in sparking his early interest in Alabama politics.
He graduated as Salutatorian of the Thomasville High School Class of 1980. Just days after graduation, he experienced a life-altering event when a gun was held to his head during a bank robbery in Fulton, Alabama. That fall, he became the first member of his family to attend college, enrolling at Samford University.
At Samford, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music, graduating magna cum laude in 1984. During college, he testified in federal court in Mobile against one of the bank robbery defendants—an experience that helped shape his decision to pursue a legal career. He enrolled in the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1988. He completed a judicial clerkship at the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals the following year.
Legal Career
From 1989 to 1995, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney, where he had the unique experience of working alongside some of the individuals who had prosecuted the bank robbery case from his youth. During this time, he met many people who would later influence his political views and values.
In 1995, he transitioned to the private sector, becoming Managing Counsel for the Travelers Insurance Company Staff Counsel Office for the State of Alabama. At the time, he was the youngest person in the company to hold that position. Over the next 21 years, he represented individuals and businesses in courts across the state, appearing in 66 of Alabama’s 67 counties.
Political Involvement and Advocacy
Upon retiring from Travelers in 2016, he joined DeGaris & Rogers, LLC—a firm co-founded with his best friend from law school. This career change allowed him to dive more deeply into both local and national politics.
In 2018, he became a charter member of Hoover Democrats and was soon named Chair of the organization. After helping elect Democrats in the 2018 cycle, he accepted the role of Executive Assistant to newly elected Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway. In this capacity, he led numerous initiatives aimed at improving public safety and community well-being.
Rogers played a key role in establishing the Craig Crisis Care Center in Birmingham in 2023, a facility that diverts individuals with mental illness and addiction issues away from jail and into crisis care.
He has trained over 1,000 law enforcement officers in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) practices and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the JBS Mental Health Authority under appointment by the Jefferson County Commission. Since January 2023, he has served on the national Board of Directors for Crisis Intervention Teams International (CITI), the world’s largest organization dedicated to CIT training for law enforcement.
In addition to his CIT work, he oversees grants, jail contract administration, and domestic violence prevention efforts in partnership with OnePlace of Birmingham.
Leadership in the Democratic Party
In 2021, he was elected Chair of the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee. Under his leadership, Democrats won every contested countywide race. One of his most notable achievements was helping shift the Jefferson County School Board from a 4-1 Republican majority to a 3-2 Democratic majority, capturing two previously Republican-held seats in 2022 and 2024.
He also attended every Jefferson County Election Commission meeting over a five-year period, gaining firsthand knowledge of the inner workings of the election process. He recently resigned as Chair to run for Secretary of State.
Personal Life and Interests
He has been married to Lauri Sitton Rogers for over 38 years. The couple has lived in downtown Birmingham for more than seven years. They have three grown children:
- Sarah (Elizabeth) – lives in Washington, DC
- Joel (Brittany) – lives in New York City
- Justin (Han) – lives in Nashville, Tennessee
They are also proud grandparents to Skylar (13), Loren (3), and Calvin (1).
His hobbies include fantasy sports—especially fantasy baseball and football. He currently plays in two fantasy football leagues with his sons and holds championship titles in both. His oldest fantasy baseball league dates back to 1992, and he and his co-owner are currently in contention for back-to-back championships. He also enjoys karaoke, discovering new restaurants, and going on river cruises with his wife.