By Tim Chicirda, BucksLocalNews.com

John Rodgers' resume in Bristol Borough is rather amazing, but there is more to this local man than just his dedication to his home town, as Rodgers gave years of his life to our nation.Rodgers' busy life began with his birth on Bath Street in the borough.

John was welcomed into a very full household of 12, which included his grandparents, two uncles and an aunt.

"It was a house full of love and one bathroom," jokes Rodgers.

His father, also named John, was a Bristol Borough Committeeman for many years, while his mother Sarah was an employee at Grundy Mill.

While in Bristol High School where he was a member of the baseball team, John made a very important life decision: to join the United States Air Force. After graduating in 1947, John became a member of the Air Force and was so from 1950 to 1954.

Rather than being draft into the Army, as many were at this point in time, Rodgers decided to join voluntarily.

Rodgers began his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

John was then stationed at many other spots, including Denver in the States, Newfoundland and Greenland.

Rodgers ended his time with the Air Force with a two-year stint Bolling Air Force Base in our nation's capital. While working in an office in the base, John continued his passion for baseball with the Bolling Air Force team, while playing basketball as well.

At Bolling, Rodgers met Betty Mendick and married her. Betty was from Western Pennsylvania. She worked for the U.S. Navy, as well as in the White House as a secretary under Dwight Eisenhower.

Mendick went to see Louis Prima and Keely Smith at the Bolling Air Force Base. Here, Betty met Airman First Class John Rodgers.

When Rodgers returned home, his real lifelong legacy began as a huge political figure in Bristol Borough. In fact, Rodgers is the only person in the long history of the town to be Borough Councilman, Council President, Mayor and State Representative.

"One thing that I am most proud of is holding those four offices that no one else ever did," said Rodgers. "I love the town and I think I helped make things better."

Rodgers was a Bristol Borough Councilman for 10 years, and spent another two-year term as President of this group.

Another eight years of John's political life was spent as Mayor of Bristol in two non-consecutive terms.

Rodgers capped off his impressive political resume with two years as Pennsylvania State Representative in 1979 and 1980.

When Rodgers was President of Council, he met with the legendary Senator Grundy. They had lunch in Grundy's mansion and discussed issues important to the community.

"I remember most being greeted by one of his servants," said Rodgers, recalling the style that Grundy lived. However, this meeting was a very important one for John, meeting the leading citizen of Bristol and receiving advice for the second portion of his political career.

Rodgers was a giant in the world of community service. John contributed to the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County. He was on the Board of Directors for the Lower Bucks Hospital. And, during his political tenure, the Grundy Tower, the Senior Citizen Center and many recreational programs were created.

This is truly something that would make Senator Grundy, a man who preached the art of giving back to the community, proud.

Fred Hems, a man who was a former subject of Saluting our Veterans, states that: "John Rodgers was always for a better Bristol."