Roger Mendenhall was born on September 25th, 1941 in Decatur, Illinois. to Mary and Wesley Mendenhall, a US Navy officer in WWII. During his teen years, He was a member of the Boy Scouts and started a love of motor sports by racing three seasons in the local Soap Box Derby. Over the years he participated in drag racing and stock car racing with several successful cars.
In 1959, Mendenhall graduated from high school, married, and joined the U.S. Army where he spent 3 ½ years on active duty in France. He returned in “62” and went to work for Caterpillar Tractor Company as a master welder and fabricator. His first three children were born during those years, but the marriage ended in divorce. He met his wife of 43 years, Karen, in 1967. They have one son, Wes. Graduating from Illinois State University in1972, Roger worked two years for STP Corporation, and then taught vocational auto mechanics for twelve years.
Roger’s Masonic path started in 1976 when he was raised in Masonic Lodge #67 at Normal, Illinois. In 1978 he went through York Rite - Knights Templar Ceremony, Beaumanoir Commandery #9 in Decatur, Illinois. Later that year, he entered Ansar Shrine, Springfield, Illinois, where his father was his first line signer.
The Mendenhalls moved to Colorado Springs in 1986, where he went to work for El Paso County, and Karen became a fifth grade teacher in Academy School District #20. They are now both enjoying retired life and finding time to become more active with their Shrine family at Al Kaly. He is a member of El Paso Lodge #13, and is an associate member of El Jebel Shrine in Denver. Active in the Dune Buggy Patrol of El Jebel, Al Kaly Flivers, CO. Springs Shrine Club, and he is past Wagon Master of the Al Kaly Nomads Unit. He and Karen also have a collectible toy car business and run a toy show every month at the El Jebel Shrine in Denver.