The story of OWLS begins with a woman whose entire life was defined by purpose, education, and service to others. Born in Mt. Victory, Ohio in 1922, Margaret Sadler Brugler Rogers possessed an early passion for making a meaningful impact on the world. She pursued her education at Moores Business College, Antioch College, and The Ohio State University, paving the way for a remarkable journey of leadership.
During World War II, Margaret served her country as a Medical Technician in the WACS, caring for wounded soldiers in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She later found her life's primary mission in humanitarian work, serving for over 28 years as the Ohio State Director of Church World Service/CROP. In this role, she pioneered development programs and led international delegations overseas, while also co-directing the Town and Country Department for the Ohio Council of Churches alongside her husband, the Rev. Clyde N. Rogers.
Margaret’s dedication to community and learning did not slow down with age. In 1995, at the age of 73, she looked around her home at the Westminster-Thurber Community and recognized an essential truth: the hunger for intellectual growth and deep connection never fades.
Driven by this vision, Margaret organized and successfully conducted the OWLS (Older Wiser Lifelong Scholars) school. Her goal was to provide intellectually enriching, college-level educational opportunities for Central Ohio seniors, creating a space where lifelong learners could engage with big ideas free from the pressure of grades or exams.
For ten years, Margaret personally led and nurtured the school, watching it grow from a local community initiative into a thriving intellectual hub drawing scholars from across the Greater Columbus area and surrounding counties. Though Margaret passed away in May 2005—the very year her beloved school reached its decade milestone—her foundational belief remains the bedrock of everything we do: that staying intellectually active, engaged, and curious keeps us all perpetually wise.