INTERVIEW
BENNY ROGERS
TAKES FINAL LAP AT TVCC
By Rich Flowers
F or the past 17 years Benny Rogers has been sharing the story of TVCC sports, with stats and stories, that have helped area sportswriters and broadcasters stay on top of the college’ s highly successful athletic programs. Last Summer, Rogers contemplated his future plans and informed TVCC officials that he was retiring as Sports Information Officer when the 2025-2026 cycle ended.
“ To be honest, I wanted to work two or three more years, but I was diagnosed with Parkinson’ s about three years ago. Parkinson’ s causes challenges everybody can’ t see,” Rogers said.“ It’ s just time to step back and slow down just a little bit.”
Rogers’ retirement doesn’ t mean he’ s disappearing from the local sports scene. He’ ll continue his role as a commentator on the Cardinal Sports Network and publish his“ Rogers Report” that will help keep fans in the know.
When Rogers went to work at TVCC, he was already well known and respected by fans, coaches and his fellow sportswriters around East Texas.
He’ d earned that status in his quarter century run as sports editor of Athens Daily Review.
Rogers’ love for sports came at an early age. His interest in writing and covering games would come later.
Some of his early memories are of listening to the University of Texas games with his dad on the old Humble Oil and Refining Company Network. That was in the mid-60s, when
“ I was going to be the coach that came back to Malakoff and led the Tigers to state championships.”
Benny Rogers
Longhorn back Chris Gilbert was reeling off three straight 1,000 yard seasons.
“ My father was a big influence on me.” Rogers said.
When he reached the eighth grade, Rogers’ coach, C. O. Phillips informed him he was going to be writing about the basketball team for the newspaper.
“ I’ d never written a story in my life, really, but I guess he saw something in me,” Rogers said.
At that age, Rogers’ dream wasn’ t to become a journalist. He imagined himself going into coaching.
“ I was going to be the coach that came back to Malakoff and led the Tigers to state championships. It would take a few decades and a man named Jamie Driskell to do that.”
Rogers played football at Malakoff High School, calling signals at quarterback for three seasons. During his time at MHS, Rogers took his first journalism class.
His Teacher, Thomas O. Wiley assigned
14 | Greater Athens Magazine | July 2026