LITTLE ROCK — A prominent developer and banker who served as the longtime chair of the board at Metropolitan National Bank and who helped develop what is now the Peabody hotel in downtown Little Rock has died.
Doyle Rogers Sr. died Monday morning in his sleep at his Batesville home, Metropolitan National Bank Senior Executive Vice President Susie Smith has confirmed. He was 94.
Rogers, a native of Newport, was the founder of the Doyle Rogers Co., a private real estate development, investments, banking and brokerage firm with offices in Little Rock and Batesville. Through his company, Rogers was instrumental in the development of Excelsior Hotel in 1982, which became The Peabody Little Rock, and the Statehouse Convention Center. In 1985, Rogers led the advancement of the Rogers Building, which is now the Stephens Building.
Smith said Rogers' loss will be felt by everyone at the bank he helped lead.
"He was a dear friend and inspiring mentor to everyone at the bank," she said. "And he had an extraordinary life that we're deeply grateful that we had the opportunity to work with him.
"He will be very missed. He was much loved."
Details on services weren't immediately available, a woman who answered the phone at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home in Batesville said.
Rogers became chairman of Metropolitan National Bank in 1983 after acquiring Metropolitan Bancshares.
Rogers was inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2001, Rogers was named the Business and Professional Person of the Year by the Little Rock Rotary Club.
Rogers attended Arkansas State University. According to his company website, Rogers worked several years at the Railway Express and also served in the U.S. and Royal Canadian armies in World War II. Rogers was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Lyon College and Philander Smith College, and was a former member of the Board of Trustees of Hendrix College.
Rogers' bio on his company's website said he is involved in various commercial real estate investments throughout the Midwest and Southeast United States.
Rogers was married to Josephine Raye Rogers. The couple had two children and six grandchildren.