HILLSBORO, Kan. – Tabor College Athletics continues its celebration of Bluejay greats with the recognition of former men's basketball standout Roger Camping, whose outstanding two-year career in the mid-1970s left a lasting mark on the program and campus community.
 
Camping arrived at Tabor College in the fall of 1974 after graduating from Phoenix Christian High School and Mesa Community College in Arizona. Entering Tabor as a highly recruited basketball player, he quickly established himself both on the court and across campus, later earning a bachelor's degree in business administration and economics while also serving as student body president.
 
Camping made an immediate impact during the 1974-75 season, helping guide the Bluejays to a winning campaign while emerging as one of the team's top all-around players. Among the highlights of the season was a five-game winning streak fueled by victories over respected opponents, including William Jewell College.
 
The Bluejays also earned key rivalry and conference victories over Bethel College and Kansas Newman College, now known as Newman University, with Camping playing a major role in the team's success.
 
Individually, Camping established himself as one of the top interior players in the conference. He set a single-game school record with 15 rebounds against Southwestern College, led the team in rebounding with 149 total boards, and paced the squad in field goal percentage at 53 percent. His efficient play and consistent production earned him All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition while averaging 14.8 points per game.
 
With expectations high entering the 1975-76 season, Camping elevated his game even further during his senior year and delivered one of the finest seasons by a Bluejay in that era.
 
He averaged 20.7 points per game, earning recognition as one of the premier scorers in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Among his top performances were a 36-point outing against St. Mary of the Plains College, 16 field goals against St. Mary of the Plains, and a 13-free-throw performance versus Bethany College. He also recorded 212 total rebounds to lead the team.
 
Camping again helped lead Tabor to several notable victories, including non-conference wins over Dana College and Missouri Valley College, along with important KCAC triumphs against Southwestern College, Sterling College, and McPherson College.
 
His dominant senior campaign brought a long list of postseason honors. Camping was named Team Captain, Team Most Valuable Player, KCAC All-Conference for the second consecutive season, NAIA All-District 10, and Tabor College Male Athlete of the Year in 1976.
 
Following graduation, Camping began his professional career as a special assistant to a U.S. Congressman before joining Ford's Dealer Training Program and working with several dealerships in Phoenix. In 1981, he founded RC Auto Corporation, beginning a business career that would span more than four decades. After retiring from RC Auto in 2024, he transitioned into mentoring his sons, Brandon and Ryan, in continuing the family business that has now operated for 46 years and serves more than 23,000 clients.
 
Camping also earned recognition as a Certified Vehicle Leasing Executive through the National Vehicle Leasing Association, where he served on the board during the 1990s and later received the Clements-Pender Award in 2019.
 
Beyond his business success, Camping remained committed to ministry and service. In 1990, he helped establish a Christian radio station in Prescott, Arizona, serving as founder and Chairman of the Board for Radio Shine 90.9 FM for 25 years before eventually gifting the station to Arizona Christian University.
 
Roger and his wife, Paula, have been married for 47 years and have built a family that includes three sons, one daughter, and 16 grandchildren.
 
Camping's legacy remains one of excellence, leadership, and competitive success during a formative era of Tabor men's basketball. His accomplishments continue to stand as a testament to the tradition and history of Bluejay Athletics.
 
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