Filed under: BenefitsPro, Charity, Combs & Company, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic, Pancakes for Roger, Roger E Combs, Susan L Combs, University of Missouri | Tags: Charity, Combs & Company, Doing Good, Family, life, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic, Pancakes for Roger, parenting, Susan L Combs, travel, Veterans, writing
The success of the Pancakes for Roger campaign isn’t measured in dollars raised or photos collected. It’s about the stories people share, the memories they honor, and the way this tradition continues to bring people together.
Click Here for the original post at BenefitsPro
By Susan L. Combs | March 21, 2025 at 02:40 PM
Every February, the world joins me in honoring my dad, Major General Roger E. Combs, by taking a moment to eat pancakes and take some pics. Simple, right? But Pancakes for Roger was never really about breakfast, and to be honest, it was never just about a man who broke my heart at the end of his life when he made a simple request for a favorite food. It was about what that request represented: gratitude, connection, and the small moments that make life meaningful.
Smashing records and setting the bar even higher
In 2025, we set out with ambitious goals: raise funds for the University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic and gather 1,000 photos from around the world of people celebrating Pancakes for Roger month. Well, we didn’t just meet those goals—we smashed them.
- Thanks to our generous sponsors and corporate matching donors, we raised over $13,000 for the Veterans Clinic, ensuring that those who have served our country get the legal support they need.
- We collected pancake pictures from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., as well as 25 countries, and six continents.
- And that 1,000-photo goal? We hit 1,142 submissions!
Yes, we had people eating pancakes on the beaches of New Zealand, in the mountains of Switzerland, and at kitchen tables across the U.S. We had military veterans, families, business teams, and complete strangers all taking part in something bigger than breakfast. That’s the power of a shared tradition.
More than just a meal
The success of the Pancakes for Roger campaign isn’t measured in dollars raised or photos collected. It’s about the stories people share, the memories they honor, and the way this tradition continues to bring people together.
This year, I heard from an active-duty Airman who made pancakes with his kids for the first time since returning home from deployment. A group of law students at Mizzou sat together over breakfast, discussing how they hope to help veterans through their future work. A woman in Japan told me she made pancakes in honor of her grandfather, a fellow veteran, who had passed away years ago. These are the moments that make this campaign special.
Because at its core, Pancakes for Roger is about remembering the little things — the moments we too often take for granted. It’s about slowing down, pulling up a chair, and taking a moment to be grateful. My dad knew that. And whether he was piloting CH-46 helicopters or sitting in a courtroom, he never lost sight of what mattered most.
What’s next?
This campaign started as a personal way to honor my dad, but it has grown into something bigger than I could have ever imagined. And we’re not done yet.
As a full-fledged non-profit, we are partnering with other non-profits around the country to make the greatest impact on veterans’ needs as we grow our endowment fund. Our mission is clear:
Creating pathways to improve the lives of veterans and their communities.
With the continued support of this incredible community, we will create lasting change for those who have served.
Thank you!
To everyone who participated, donated, shared, and made Pancakes for Roger 2025 a success—thank you. You are part of something special. And I know my dad is looking down, smiling, probably wondering how the hell we got we got a mule and a pig to pose for pancake pics!
I would also be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to acknowledge something else: Being a part of the insurance industry has afforded me the ability to launch this non-profit. The relationships I’ve built, the opportunities I’ve had, and the people who have stepped up to help have been instrumental in taking Pancakes for Roger to the next level.
A special thank you to some incredible individuals from our industry who have gone above and beyond this year through their efforts:
Eric Silverman, Angela Kidd, Antinea Martin, Allison De Paoli, Stephanie Berger, Jolene Bibian, Dr. Cristin Dickerson, Dawn McFarland, Taylor Miles, Jenny Weaver, Talia Hansen, Marie Goldbeck-Strunk, Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim, Juli McNeely, Kyle Gorman, Ali Goodwin, Sara Walker Hite, Amanda Brewton, Colleen Blum, David Mordo, David Smith, Lisa Laliberte, Robin Tefft, and Julie Parks.
So, as we look ahead, let’s keep the momentum going, keep lifting up our Veterans, and most importantly — keep the syrup flowing.
Filed under: Combs & Company, Did You Know That?, Feature Friday, General Combs, Giving Back, Mizzou, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic, Mizzou Law Veterans Society, Roger E Combs, Sean ORourke, Susan L Combs, University of Missouri
Host: Sean C O’Rourke
Guest: Brent Filbert
“We have to make sure the Hell the veterans come home from is not the Hell they come back to.” Marcus Luttrell
Episode 2021:5
The quote above carries many connotations, but for the purposes of this episode of Did You Know That?, we’re focusing on the relationship between veterans and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). This is not a hit piece on the VA, but an exploration of how bureaucracy, politics, money, and other factors force many veterans into a pitch battle with the very government they served.
Brent Filbert is the clinical director and a supervising attorney at The Veterans Clinic at the University of Missouri School of Law. This group of dedicated attorneys and law students take up the fight – free of charge – for veterans who aren’t receiving the benefits they earned for their service. It’s a disheartening conversation in some respects and inspiring in many others.
Check out the work of The Veterans Clinic by following the links below:
https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-missouri-columbia-school-of-law/
NOTE: This episode comes at a special time as we honor my late father-in-law, Maj. Gen. Roger E. Combs, with the #PancakesForRoger campaign on various social media platforms. To check out the story behind the endeavor, Click Here!
Music: “Continent” by ANBR via Artlist
Filed under: Combs & Company, General Combs, Giving Back, Mizzou, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic, Mizzou Law Veterans Society, Purple Foxes, Roger E Combs, University of Missouri | Tags: Air Force, Army, Combs & Company, CombsCrew, Marines, Mizzou Alumni, Mizzou Law, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic, MizzouMade, PancakesForRoger, Purple Foxes, SupportOurVets
February 1st kicks off Combs & Company’s annual campaign to support the University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic, which helps veterans and their families navigate the VA claims process and secure disability benefits when they are faced with obstacles along the way. Combs & Company will make a donation to the Veterans Clinic for every pancake-loving picture you post on social media and use the hashtag #PancakesForRoger.
Many have asked how this campaign began. It began with a what seemed to be a simple request by my father for some pancakes.
My dad, Major General Roger E. Combs, served our great country for more than 39 years in three branches of the military (Marines, Army, and Air Force). When he was coming to the end of his life, I was fortunate enough to return home to King City, MO from my NYC home to be present and help care for him. Each morning we had a pretty specific routine as the early risers of the family. I would go to the gym at 5am, return home around 6am to get ready for the day, and then help him have breakfast and get him prepped for his day. One morning, as I came downstairs, he was setting the kitchen table for himself and I looked at him rather quizzically and asked what he was doing. He looked at me and said, “I want pancakes for breakfast.” I smiled at him as my heart broke inside.
Such a simple request was by this time impossible for my dad. Ten years prior, my father was diagnosed with Agent Orange-related throat cancer, from exposure during his service as a combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He’d beaten that cancer and enjoyed a relatively good ten years, but he relapsed twice, and his final treatments required him to have a feeding tube. He was unable to eat solid foods – and my dad loved food – but he never complained. He knew the journey he was on. So his desire for pancakes became a rallying point for me and #PancakesForRoger became my way to honor his greatness. I share this story as often as I can to help remind myself and others to enjoy the simple things in life, because you never know when they could be taken away.
So every February, to show support to many veterans who will come to be in my father’s shoes, I issue a challenge for the month to have some “Pancakes for Roger.” For each picture you post on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter, and use the hashtag #PancakesForRoger, Combs & Company will make a donation in Maj. Gen. Combs’ name to the Veterans Clinic at the University of Missouri School of Law to help further their mission to support our veterans and their families.
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If you are looking to support the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic in a deeper way, feel free to CLICK HERE to make a donation!
Filed under: Branding You, Combs & Company, Insurance Women, Mizzou, Purple Foxes, Roger E Combs, Susan L Combs | Tags: Combs & Company, Eric Silverman, Mizzou Law, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic, Rockstars Rocking, Rockstars Rocking Podcast, Roger E Combs, Susan L Combs
Absolutely thrilled to be featured this week on Eric Silverman‘s Rockstars Rocking podcast!
Thank you so much Eric, for giving me a platform to share about my journey and my passion for the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic at the University of Missouri!
Click below to watch the episode!
Want to see more episodes, make sure you CLICK HERE to subscribe!
Filed under: Combs & Company Blog, Motivational, Purple Foxes, Roger E Combs | Tags: Combs Crew, Purple Foxes, Roger E Combs
Major General Roger E Combs (February 22, 1945 – August 22, 2018)
Husband, Father, Grandpa, Brother, Son, Uncle, Friend, Mentor, Servant, General and Judge. He’s gone by so many titles over the years.
He was born on the family farm in rural Stanberry, Missouri on February 22, 1945. He was known for quoting a Senator who said, “When you’re born on a dairy farm, everything else is easy.”
He shared his successes with those he loved, like the incredible experience of his promotion party when he was given his 2nd Star (Major General). He invited all his “circles” – family, church, courthouse, and military. He had a Wikipedia page and hardly anyone in the family or King City knew about it.
This is how he lived. He could talk to anyone. No matter the successes he achieved, he never forgot he was that boy who was born on a farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse. He was the son of H.H. and Ruby Fern.
He was a teacher.
This man taught me, “It’s important for you to be understood, but it’s more important for you to not be misunderstood.” I think one of us kids quotes this weekly.
This man taught me to be independent and have a common knowledge of how to fix some things. Then if all else fails, WD-40 and duct tape will fix almost anything.
This man taught me to parallel park between a horse trailer and a feed truck out on the Mule Shoe Ranch. Living in NYC, this skill has become priceless.
But most importantly, this man taught me there are three major aspects of my life and he basically broke it down to me like this: “You have the person you are with, the place where you live, and the thing you do for a living. If you’re happy with 3 out of 3 then you are living a golden life; but on any given day, if you can be happy in at least 2 of those aspects, you’re doing just fine. But if you’re happy with only one or none, then get off your butt and do something about it. Surround yourself with supportive people who “get” you; to whom you don’t have to explain yourself. Live in a place that excites you and that cultivates who you are and who you want to be. Choose to do something you love because invariably you’ll do it well.” He was a living example of this by showing us a deep love for our mother, passion for his career, and a fondness for his community.
His life was the definition of God, Family, and Country. He had integrity, love, and sheer grit. He loved his family, community, church, courthouse crew, and his brothers and sisters of the armed forces, with whom he served for more than 39 years. The outpouring of stories and notes we have received reinforce the fact that he was not only our hero, but a hero to many. He was the guy who would mentor young officers in the military; he made children feel safe when their home lives were in disarray during custody hearings; he would snow blow downtown King City to make sure the merchants were safe in the winter; he took the time to care when there were no witnesses.
He was a fighter.
Most recognizably as a CH-46 Helicopter pilot for the Purple Foxes in the US Marine Corp and until the very end, as he battled Agent Orange-related throat cancer for the past decade. He never gave up and he never surrendered, until God took mercy on his soul on August 22, 2018.
To say this past year has changed me would be an understatement. He helped make me who I am today. I have been and will always be proud to call him my father and know that he still lives within each of the many lives he touched all over the world. Over the past year of his life, I am so grateful that I was able to take the time, be quick to listen, fierce to love, slower to say yes to everything, and to find the serenity when I could.
You’ll always be in our hearts.
Susan
combsandco 