The Way I See It...

Publisher's Letter 

Robin Rogers, Ed.D.

June 2026

Several of my favorite people walked across a stage last month. From the most precious 5 year-old I know leaving behind a wonderful preschool, to dear friends earning high school diplomas, to another friend finishing nursing school, this graduation season carried a certain kind of magic. It is the turning of a tassel, the closing of one chapter, and the anticipation of what comes next.

For some, graduation means leaving home for dorm rooms and independence. For others, it means stepping into a new career after years of preparation and sacrifice. No matter the age, every graduation represents hope, growth, and the courage to step forward into the future.

Over the years, I have sponsored several employees through Leadership Texarkana, the outstanding yearlong leadership program now led by Dr. Jenny Walker. I love our community and the people who continue investing in it. This year, my coworker Victoria Herman graduated from Leadership Texarkana, and I attended the final luncheon where the keynote speaker was Gary Kusin.

If you are from Texarkana, you probably remember the Kusin family. They owned a furniture store and the bowling alley for many years and were deeply respected in the Texarkana area. Gary Kusin graduated from Texas High School, and on graduation day, he shared the stage with another Texarkana native—Ross Perot.

That day, Perot saw something special in the young graduate and made him an offer: “Come back to Dallas with me. Let me show you around, and we will discuss your future.” Most 18-year-olds would have gone to the lake after graduation, but Gary Kusin climbed in the car with a man who would become one of the most influential businessmen in America—ever. That simple decision changed the trajectory of his life. Years later, after Gary earned his graduate degree from Harvard, Ross Perot invested in Gary’s first company, Babbages (now Gamestop).

There is a lesson in that: opportunity often arrives quietly. Sometimes it simply looks like somebody opening a door and saying, “Come on. Let’s go.” The hard part is having the courage to walk through the door.

I grew up fascinated by Ross Perot. I had the privilege of interviewing him three times during my life, but the first interview remains the most unforgettable. We spent hours discussing leadership, family, Texarkana, and the people we knew in common. Somehow, the conversation turned to his Uncle Henry, who used to fly into Shillings Airport near my grandparents’ house. As a little girl, I would run outside after hearing the airplane buzz the house because I knew that Henry kept peppermints in his glovebox, just for me. Mr. Perot laughed at that story, and soon we were talking about family history and the importance of relationships. Then he mentioned the wedding ring his father had given his mother, a ring his father had saved for months to buy. He asked if I would like to see it.

“Well, of course,” I answered. It was so nonchalant that I expected Mr. Perot to open up his desk drawer and pull out the ring.

“Follow me to my house,” he said.

And just like that, much like Gary Kusin years earlier, I found myself saying yes to an unexpected invitation. At the time (2001), Ross Perot was already an international figure: businessman, presidential candidate, founder of major companies, and a man known around the world. Yet what struck me most was not his success but his sentimentality. He loved talking about his parents and grandparents. He loved Texarkana. He never forgot where he came from.

In his home, the treasured wedding ring sat displayed in a glass box on top of the fireplace mantel. He opened the case and let me hold it while he talked about commitment, relationships, and remembering the people who helped shape your  life.

I left that evening feeling like I had experienced a masterclass in leadership—not leadership built on ego or power, but leadership rooted in humility, gratitude, and respect.

Gary Kusin has that same spirit. (Gary is also someone I have been fascinated with for most of my adult life.) Both men were raised here. Both became incredibly successful businessmen and visionary leaders. Both understood persistence and the importance of surrounding yourself with good people. Both valued family. And both always came back home when asked.

There is something powerful about people who never forget where they started.

To me, home will always be the place where family, teachers, friends, and neighbors helped shape who I became. In small towns and communities like ours, leadership is often learned long before somebody sits in a boardroom. It is learned from parents who work hard, teachers who encourage us, and mentors who believe in us before we fully believe in ourselves.

As we celebrate area graduates this month—from preschoolers to high schoolers, from college students to Leadership Texarkana graduates—we are also spotlighting some wonderful men who are leaders and fathers and business giants. The Alexanders (on the cover) have been helping couples find their most precious possessions for many decades now, and at 89, Jerry Alexander, the patriarch, is still leading from the back room.

Graduation season reminds us that the future is always unfolding. Somewhere in this month’s group of graduates is another entrepreneur, teacher, nurse, business owner, or community leader. Somewhere is another young person about to accept an unexpected invitation that may change everything.

Perhaps that is the beauty of it all. We never fully know where one opportunity, one mentor, or one brave decision might lead. I hope you enjoy this special issue celebrating graduates, leadership, family, and community. And, as always, thank you for reading FSLM.