Darrell "Ray" Rodgers

Arkansas boxing legend Darrell "Ray" Rodgers died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, at his son's home in Nolensville, Tenn., following a life that touched thousands of people around the world through his work with sports and boxing organizations. Born in Shawnee, Okla., on Oct. 1, 1936, to Ted and Wanda Rodgers, Rodgers moved to Conway, Ark., as a child and graduated from Conway High School and later Arkansas State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas. He enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard in 1959 and retired in 1982 as a Sergeant First Class as a tank platoon sergeant. He owned Mid-South Drywall for 20 years in Little Rock until his retirement in 2011. He was also a member of the Markham Street Baptist Church. Known for his quick humor and his savvy lines, Rodgers' last fight against Alzheimer's was one that he stood toe to toe with, standing until the final bell. A father, husband, businessman, community leader and coach, Rodgers was a friend to many and a mentor to more, always known to quip "keep your head down, your gloves up and your ass off the canvas" or to "keep punching." He began his boxing career at age 11 and never looked back, even helping coach fellow teens. He often talked about his own amateur boxing career of 14 years this way: "I had deceptive speed as a boxer," he would say. "I was slower than I looked," adding that he "never finished worse than second place in a match." He opened the Ray Rodgers Boxing Club in Conway in 1969 and later moved the club to Little Rock, where local leaders donated space for him because of his strong connection to local youths. He operated the club until 2020, at the Junior Deputy fields, where he also opened an afterschool education center and computer lab for local students. Throughout his coaching career, professional boxers like Muhammed Ali, Joe Frazier, Ernie Shavers and Sean O'Grady visited or worked out at the gym. He trained young people in boxing for over 60 years and traveled in the team van on Saturday nights, taking his young boxers to local tournaments in every corner of Arkansas and to tournaments across the nation. Rodgers ran the National Silver Gloves as president from 1980 to 2020 and was president of National Golden Gloves from 2007-2017. Many credited him with being the heart and soul of Arkansas and national youth boxing for years, bringing many regional and national tournaments to the state. His boxing touch extended to the pro ranks, where he worked more than 1,000 professional fights around the world as a cutman, including 39 world title fights for Jermaine Taylor, Tommy Morrison, Hector Camacho, Iran Barkley, Wayne McCollough and Glenn Johnson. Sought after by many trainers and boxers, Rodgers honed his craft over years and was inducted into the third class of the USA Boxing Hall of Fame in the same class that included Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard and Sen. John McCain because as he put it he "had stuff that could hold two drops of water together." Rodgers also was honored in the National Golden Gloves and Silver Gloves halls of fame, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, where he told a local sportscaster, "The Arkansas Hall of Fame is as much fun as you can have with your clothes on," the Arkansas Sports Writers Hall of Fame and the Conway Sports Hall of Fame. He coached the USA Boxing Team three times. Having dinner out with Poppy, Butterball, Ray, Darrell or Coach, whatever name you knew him by because as he would say "call me whatever you want, just don't call me late for dinner," was like meeting a who's who of Arkansas. Business leaders, politicians, athletes, high school buddies and fans would often want to shake his hand and regale friends with stories about how they knew each other and the shenanigans and adventures they encountered. Despite all of his work running a business and running much of amateur boxing in the United States, he raised three children. When he wanted to relax, quiet weekends at Lake DeGray were common with Momma Carole and his friends on the dock or working on his vast collections of antique fishing lures, Jewel Tea china, Civil War history and more. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Sally Rodgers, in 1987; his second wife, Carole Minor Rodgers, in 2019; his daughter, Dawn Michelle Endres, in 2005; his brothers, David in 1996 and Dale in 2011. He is survived by his son, Michael David Rodgers (wife Jennifer) of Nolensville, Tenn.; his daughter Lisa Douglas of Furlow, Ark.; grandchildren Brandon Mazander (wife Heather) of Little Rock; Adam Mazander of San Francisco; Sarah Mazander (husband Glen) of Judsonia; and Ashley Endres Maier (husband Jordan) of Stuttgart; Dakota Douglas (wife Megan); stepdaughter Cheryl Ringgold (husband Larry) of Sherwood, Ark.; and stepson Ray Minor (wife Tacy) of Fayetteville, Ark. He also is survived by sisters Judy Rodgers Stell of Vilonia and Donna Rodgers Dillahunty (husband Doyle) of Little Rock. Visitation is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, at Markham Street Baptist Church, 9701 W. Markham St. in Little Rock. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. at the church and military burial will be at 1 p.m. at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander. Arrangements under the direction of Roller-Owens Funeral Home in North Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations in Ray Rodgers' honor be sent to the National Silver Gloves and the Mid-South Golden Gloves, P.O. Box 236, 923 Oldham Drive, Nolensville, Tenn. 37135. An online guestbook is available at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/owens