Ted Rogers died today and based on the outpouring of media coverage, he will be missed as a highly respected and patriotic Canadian entrepreneur. I’ve had the oppotunity to write a few stories on Ted’s passing today but I thought I’d at least talk about my only personal experience I’ve had with him.

I haven’t been reporting too long to really say I knew the guy, even though it feels like every other story I write is about the Rogers Communications Inc. In fact, I only met Ted once, at the most recent AGM.

Ted did a press conference before the official AGM that lasted for about an hour. Pretty standard fare – deflected questions about the iPhone, the Jays’ management, his succession plans and stuck to the party line. After it was over, I went over and shook his hand and introduced myself.

“Ted, hi. I’m with the Financial Post. It’s an honour to meet you,” I said, slightly starstruck.

“It’s an honour to meet you,” he said with a grin. I gave a nervous laugh, muttered a few things about the company and moved on down the line to the next Rogers executive.

Anyways, it’s not a very good anecdote, given how long he’s been around for and how many other journalists have played ball with him. But it’s all I’ve got.

To echo a statement made earlier by Tom over at wirelessnorth.ca, say what you want about the lag in wireless innovation in Canada; without Ted, chances are we wouldn’t be living in a wireless world at all. Rest in peace, Ted.