John F. Rogers, 80, owns and operates the Turkey Creek Driving Range in Morris. The business is open seven days a week, and Rogers can be found there most days.



• How long have you had this business?

Twenty-one years.



• Are you a golfer?

I’ve never been on a golf course in my life.



• What do you enjoy about this job?

It gives me something to do and keeps me out of the house. I’m still able to cut the grass and keep the place up.



• Are you from Morris?

I was born in Birmingham and my family moved here when I was 1 or 2. We moved back into the house where my daddy was born.



• How long has your family been in this area?

I’m the sixth generation that’s farmed this property.



• Your family has some history attached to it.

My great-great-granddaddy and his four brothers were in the Civil War. We’ve traced our family back to 1635 in Virginia.



• How many brothers and sisters do you have?

I have two brothers. Kenneth was a dentist in Warrior and Ray had a Western Auto store. They’re both retired.



• Tell me about your own family.

My wife is Faye. She was a Trotter. I’ve got three kids: Rebecca, John III and Jeffrey. I’ve got six grandkids, three boys and three girls.



• How long have you been married?

Fifty-nine years. We met in high school – Mortimer Jordan.



• What sort of work have you done besides the driving range?

We had Rogers Dairy right here for 25 years. We closed it in 1975.



• Do you have any hobbies?

Well, we’re open here seven days a week so there’s not a lot of spare time.



• What is your busiest time of year?

The spring.



• What about your slowest?

Football season and the winter. When it drops below 50 degrees, nobody comes out.