John Rosser was born and raised in Sanford, North Carolina. As a child, Rosser was very passionate about his involvement in the Boy Scouts. He was always aware of Rotary's role in the community because of his father's involvement with the Rotary Club in Sanford. Rosser has been a member of the Rotary Club of Greensboro for over twenty-five years. After graduating from high school in 1968, Rosser attended Wake Forest University and majored in economics. In anticipation of being drafted to Vietnam after graduation, he joined the United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. Rosser graduated from Wake Forest in 1972, when tensions in Vietnam were beginning to wind down. Fulfilling his active duty promise upon graduation, Rosser was sent to Officer Basic School in the Medical Service Corps at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. While at Fort Sam Houston, he was offered the option of two years of active duty, or six months of active duty and seven and a half years of Reserve duty. Rosser chose the latter. He accepted a job offer at Jefferson Pilot in Greensboro, North Carolina, in March 1973, and has lived there ever since.