Rogers, Alfred Harold Douglas

He was appointed as a Naval Cadet (UNTD) RCN(R) 1958.

In 1958 he served in HMCS Donnacona for UNTD. (He was released.)

"His interest in judo sent him on an adventure of a lifetime.

In 1960, he boarded a ship in Vancouver and sailed to Tokyo, Japan to further his judo training.

He recalled his five years in Japan fondly, training with some of judo's greatest teachers and making many lifelong friends along the way. Upon arriving in Tokyo, he trained at the Kodokan and made an effort to practice with some of the best competitors coming out of the police academy and Takushuoku Univerisity (Takudai). Eventually he met Masahiko Kimura, widely considered one of the greatest judokas of all time, and head coach at Takudai. Kimura became a mentor to Doug, and Doug eventually trained with him full-time at Takudai. Doug had an exceptional career in judo and highlights include the 1964 Olympic Games (silver), 1965 Pan American Games (gold), 1965 All Japan University Championship (gold), 1965 World Judo Championships (bronze), 1967 Pan American Games (gold), and 1972 Olympic Games (fifth). Doug was also a five-time Canadian National Champion. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, Doug was Canada's flag bearer in the opening ceremonies; and in 1977, he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame."