 He served as the director of Virginia's official celebration of Jamestown's 350th anniversary in 1957.From 1974 through 1980, Rouse also served as the Executive Director of the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission and assisted in the planning for the 1976 visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Jamestown and Williamsburg.Virginia Governor Gerald Baliles proclaimed Rouse a "Virginia Laureate" in 1988 in recognition for his "contributions preserving the Commonwealth's heritage."