LR Airport dedicates road to honor former director

The Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission on Wednesday (June 18) held a dedication ceremony honoring the legacy of James R. Rodgers Sr., a trailblazing figure in American aviation and a Little Rock community leader.

The event, held on the grounds of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, formally unveiled a new roadway named James R. Rodgers Sr. Drive, recognizing his significant contributions to the airport, the Little Rock community and the nation.

Rodgers made history in 1980 when he was appointed executive director of the then-Little Rock Regional Airport, becoming the first African American executive director of a U.S. commercial service airport.

During his tenure, he oversaw more than $70 million in expansion projects, including terminal upgrades and the construction of a parallel runway, which helped double annual passenger boardings. He also played a key role in bringing Southwest Airlines to Little Rock and supporting the early expansion of Dassault Falcon Jet.

During the dedication ceremony, attendees heard remarks from Clinton National Airport Executive Director Steven C. Baker, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission Chair Patrick Schueck, and James R. Rodgers Jr., all paying tribute to a man remembered for his integrity, vision and unwavering commitment to progress.

“Today, we honor the legacy of Mr. James Rodgers Sr., the nation’s first African American airport director,” Baker said. “We also honor the rich history of Little Rock. In this day and age, when people will try to convince you that up is down and down is up, knowing history will counteract any disturbances and allow you to progress along your intended flight path. Mr. Rodgers believed in doing things the right way, not the easy way. That is the legacy of James R. Rodgers Sr.”

Born on March 15, 1947, in Little Rock, Rodgers grew up in the Tuxedo Courts housing development and graduated from Horace Mann High School in 1965. He served in the U.S. Air Force and later earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Rodgers joined the airport in 1977 as an administrative assistant. In just three years, he rose to the position of executive director, overseeing unprecedented growth and modernization efforts.

He was a member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). Rodgers also played an active role in civic organizations and boards, including the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts Quapaw Council, and the Little Rock branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Rodgers passed away in 1993 and is buried at Little Rock National Cemetery. He was posthumously inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1994.