A Wonderful friend, fellow skater and great humanitarian is missing from our ranks but never gone from our hearts. Christopher Columbus Rooks the son of the late William H. and Willie Rooks was born in Forrest City Arkansas on Dec.26,1927. Upon moving to Memphis,Tn. in 1936, he attended public schools and was an alumnus of Booker T. Washington High School. He accepted Christ and joined New Bethel Church in 1940. Christopher joined the Navy on January 3,1944 and later received an honorable discharge on February 21, 1947. He joined the US Army Corps of Engineers on April 17, 1947 and retired after 42 years of service on January 1, 1990. Christopher was a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church where he served until his health failed.

 

"Pops" as he was so fondly known to us, was a senior Rolling Wheels of Memphis member for eight years. The wings he so proudly displayed on his wheels were representative of the life long love he had for flying around the wood in such rinks as the "Hippodrom", "Dave's", "Skateland" and "Crystal Palace. His smile was genuine and his love for skating was apparent to everyone he encountered at any rink. Shortly before his death, Pops was unable to skate but could always be found at the Crystal Palace Skating Rink every Wednesday night to meet each skater who entered the building with a hand shake of wave and to cheer them on as they took to the wood. Whenever the Rolling Wheels of Memphis would travel to other cities Pops would give a donation even though he could not attend. He departed this life on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at V.A. Medical Center at Memphis.

 

GONE FROM OUR PRESENCE BUT NEVER FROM OUR HEARTS