Roger Jorgensen

{{short description|American basketball player}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Roger Jorgensen

| image =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5

| weight_lb = 200

| birth_date = {{birth date|1920|9|2}}

| birth_place = Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2010|10|3|1920|9|2}}

| death_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| high_school = Taylor Allderdice {{avoid wrap|(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)}}

| college = Ohio State (1939–1941)

| career_start = 1944

| career_end = 1948

| career_number = 7

| career_position = Center / forward

| years1 = 1944–1945

| team1 = Washington Capitols

| years2 = 1946–1947

| team2 = East Pittsburgh Pirates

| years3 = 1946–1947

| team3 = Pittsburgh Ironmen

| years4 = 1947–1948

| team4 = Zanesville Pioneers

| cyears1 = 1947–1949

| cteam1 = Waynesburg College (assistant)

| cyears2 = 1950–1951

| cteam2 = Waynesburg College

| highlights =

| bbr = jorgero01

}}

Roger Kennedy Jorgensen (September 2, 1920 – October 3, 2010){{cite web |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?n=roger-k-jorgensen&pid=145828385&fhid=3688 |title=Roger K. Jorgensen |publisher=Legacy.com |accessdate=2011-06-01}} was an American basketball player. He played high school basketball at Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where in 1938 he set the city high school record for most points in a season with 220 points, which stood until 1945.{{cite news |title=Ironmen sign Jorgensen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-ironmen-sign-jor/139830479/ |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=21 December 1946 |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

Jorgensen played college basketball for the Pittsburgh Panthers and Ohio State Buckeyes.{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/historical/playerfile/index.html?player=roger_jorgensen |title=Roger Kennedy Jorgensen |publisher=National Basketball Association |accessdate=2011-06-01}}{{cite news |author1=Steve Snider |title=Roger Jorgensen bolsters Bucks' floor title hopes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-roger-jorgensen-bol/139899433/ |access-date=30 January 2024 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |agency=United Press International |date=6 January 1941 |page=19 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} His college career was interrupted by World War II, with Jorgensen serving nearly four years in the United States Navy.{{cite news |title=Navy discharges Roger Jorgensen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-navy-discharges-rog/139899540/ |access-date=30 January 2024 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=6 January 1946 |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

Following his stint in the Navy, Jorgensen initially signed with the East Pittsburgh Pirates in December 1946. Later that month, he joined the Pittsburgh Ironmen of the Basketball Association of America.{{cite news |title=Jorgensen casts lot with Ironmen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-jorgensen-casts-lot/139902169/ |access-date=30 January 2024 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=21 December 1946 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} The following season, he played for the Zanesville Pioneers.{{cite news |title=Jorgensons well known in sports world |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-jorgensons-well-known/139901411/ |access-date=30 January 2024 |work=The Times Recorder |date=3 December 1947 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}