TEXARKANA, Ark. (KSLA) - Before becoming the Texarkana Arkansas Recreation Center, this building served as a central location for the Texarkana Boys & Girls Club. Hundreds of kids sought refuge there, like Rod Smith, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos.
“I always call it a safe haven. That was a place you could go and know that things were going to be right from the way they ran it,” Smith said.
Smith and others say their success was a result of care they received from Texarkana resident, Terry Rogers, who worked at the rec center for 40 years. During his career there, he held various positions, including director.
“We are going to honor a great individual today, Terry Lee Rogers, with the renaming of our Texarkana recreational center the Terry Lee Rogers Recreational Center,” said Mayor Allen Brown.
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Now, Rogers’ name will forever be associated with this facility.
“Shocked. I really was surprised when they said they were going to name this building after me,” Rogers said.
“I think it is a very fitting tribute to a great man,” Smith said.
During the name change ceremony Friday afternoon (May 30), Rogers was praised for his work helping kids stay on the right path. Rogers says he did what he could because of his love for children.
The Terry Lee Rogers Recreational Center is located at 1 Legion Dr. in Texarkana, Ark.
“Right now, I’m kind of still surprised. I see my name out there, but still it’s like is that my name up there or somebody else name up there?” Rogers joked.
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