Larry E. Rodgers

Rodgers also refereed football for 36 years. He served as President, Vice-President and Rules Interpreter of Southwestern Chapter of New York State Association of Certified Football Officials. He refereed NYSPHSAA football sectional, regional and final (1994) games. In all, Rodgers worked an incredible 610 high school football games.

Praise for Rodgers comes from a number of fellow CSHOF inductees:

Wally Huckno, former football coach at Jamestown said, “Larry was a special guy. When he worked a game, you knew he would bring integrity to it. He was a friendly fellow who didn’t have an attitude. He always took the time to explain things. He threw the flag sparingly and had the game in control at all times.”

Bill Race, former football coach at Falconer, stated, “Larry was one of the greatest officials we ever had. He was first class all the way. He always took time to teach the kids. He was a gentleman and a fantastic person.”

“Larry was very fair and always on top of his game,” recalled Fran Sirianni of Southwestern Central. “He really took a special interest in the kids. He always had candy in his pocket for them, whether it was on the field or off. I was proud to have known him.”

Former Panama Central softball coach Deb Palmer said, “Larry was a fair and honest umpire and a true gentleman. He knew the rules and kept the games under control. His love for the game was obvious to all. He was a walking rule book who always took the time to make sure my players understood the ‘why’ on his calls.”

Jack Fulford, a fellow official, stated, “Larry was always one of the highest rated umpires and also one of the highest rated football officials in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. Coaches and fans always had the highest respect for him.”

Larry Rodgers died June 12, 2011, in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.