From Fordyce country boy to Magnolia community builder
Life in LA Today
If you’ve lived in Magnolia for very long, you’ve certainly seen him around town… or at least seen the ubiquitous WDR signs. Today, you’ll hear the story behind those initials. W. Derrell Rogers went from a country boy growing up near Fordyce — without electricity, television, or even a telephone — to a Southern State College graduate who found himself down to eating ten-cent cans of Campbell’s soup while working hard to build a business and a life in Magnolia. But Derrell Rogers didn’t just build a business — he helped build a community. He served three...
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From tragedy to grace, a son's vision becomes reality
Life in LA Today
There are times in life when tragedy seems to have the final word—but often, God is quietly at work, writing a greater story. Today on Life in LA, we share one of those stories. It begins with Drs. Pierre and Martine Boumtje, professors at Southern Arkansas University, who came to Magnolia from Cameroon, built a life of faith and family, and raised three sons—one of whom seemed destined for an extraordinary medical career. But when their oldest son, a gifted oral surgeon named Guy Martial Njewel Ndega, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 39, the family was left facing an unimaginable...
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Riding "The Cat" for 35 years
Life in LA Today
Today’s guest is someone who’s logged more miles on the backroads of Columbia County than most of us could count. Terry Hanson has been driving a school bus for the Magnolia School District for 35 years — and that’s not counting the year he spent subbing before that. He drives Bus 72, known to the kids as the “Cat Bus,” and in some ways it’s a reflection of his career — reliable, steady, and still rolling strong. Terry’s day begins out in the Mt. Vernon community, where Lafayette County is practically in his backyard. From there, he heads down those familiar roads,...
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From pews to pastures, meet the other Jack Daniels
Life in LA Today
His father either had a great sense of humor or a knack for coming up with names. He called the acreage he farmed along the Red River in Lafayette County Miracle Farms, inspired by one of his favorite sayings: “God grants the miracle — we do the work.” But why did Mr. Daniels name his son Jack? “I have a lot of fun with the name,” Jack Daniels told me. “Apparently my dad had a pretty good sense of humor.” In the latest episode of my podcast, I sat down with Jack to talk about the story behind Miracle Farms — its roots, its name, and the faith that still shapes the work that...
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Stories from the man behind the chair
Life in LA Today
Today on Life in LA, I sat down with a man who’s been part of Magnolia’s story for nearly six decades. Don Higdon began barbering on the square back in 1966, when a shop might have just one pair of electric clippers that all three barbers shared. Since then, he’s seen every hairstyle imaginable come and go — from the flat top and the GI cut to the mullet and beyond — and he’s had a front-row seat to the conversations, laughter, and life stories that passed through his chair. But there’s a lot more to Don than just a good haircut. In our conversation, I learned about the...
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Cruisin' for a worthy cause
Life in LA Today
Today’s episode takes us to a special community event in Magnolia, Arkansas — the annual Cruisin’ Against Bruisin’ car show, hosted at Immanuel Baptist Church. More than just a gathering of classic cars and enthusiasts, this event raises funds for Compassion’s Foundation, an organization dedicated to offering empowering services, including emergency shelter and support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. It’s an important cause, and the car show brings together people who care deeply about both the cars and the community. The show is...
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This country store lives on!
Life in LA Today
Philip Story grew up his formative years in the small community of Macedonia, some seven miles south of Magnolia at the intersection of Arkansas Hwys. 19 and 160. He grew up walking up the road to one of the two Franks' grocery stores that served the community. Nearly everything was sold there, including ice cold Coca Colas and those lemon flavored Jackson cookies that were sold out of the big glass jar. Today, Philip is the co-owner not only of his own country store but the one remaining Franks store building as well. In December of 2022, the ribbon was cut on Keith's Grocery...
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Meet the mayor of West Lamartine!
Life in LA Today
When it rains in these parts, I often open the Facebook page of a guy that I know is going to post the amount of rainfall he received in West Lamartine. When I heard him called the Mayor of West Lamartine, I was intrigued. But when he repaired my mother's favorite clock, I knew I had to get a microphone on him and learn more about Larry Polk. Larry and his wife Jean live just about a mile off U.S. 371 in Lamartine. As befitting a "public servant" in the role of mayor, Larry's Facebook profile and background picture both feature a highway sign bearing the name of his community. Larry...
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Archeologist explores lives of early LA residents
Life in LA Today
Long before those of us who speak our particular version of English inhabited what is now Lower Arkansas, early man inhabited the countryside. Dr. Carl Drexler is research archeologist for the Arkansas Archeological Survey stationed at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. He is intimately familiar with all periods of cultural development in this region and recently expanded upon them at a talk at the Columbia County Library. Dr. Drexler was born three years before the release of the first movie featuring the exploits of Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr. and admits he did not see the...
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Eyewitness encourages all to see eclipse
Life in LA Today
Take it from John Harden: the solar eclipse coming up April 8 is an awe-inspiring event with spiritual impact that you don't want to miss. As a father who took his family to see the last, John has first-hand experience. Back in 2017 they drove from Magnolia to Lebanon, Tennessee to witness the eclipse. "You've got to get into the region of 100 per cent totality," John told me. "I drove eight hours to see it the last time, that's probably the extent I would have done it in 2017 but knowing what I know now, I would have driven two days for it. It is that much of a must see. It's incredible."...
info_outlineIf you’ve lived in Magnolia for very long, you’ve certainly seen him around town… or at least seen the ubiquitous WDR signs. Today, you’ll hear the story behind those initials.
W. Derrell Rogers went from a country boy growing up near Fordyce — without electricity, television, or even a telephone — to a Southern State College graduate who found himself down to eating ten-cent cans of Campbell’s soup while working hard to build a business and a life in Magnolia.
But Derrell Rogers didn’t just build a business — he helped build a community.
He served three terms as a Magnolia alderman, was president of United Way, and served on the Chamber of Commerce board. Along with nine other Magnolia leaders, he helped form the Magnolia Economic Development Corporation. He and Bob Jones negotiated the purchase of land that is now Harvey Couch Business Park, and Derrell served as MEDC president for its first three years.
He was also very active in the Arkansas Real Estate Association, an organization of nearly 8,000 members, serving as chairman of numerous committees and as president in 1989. His leadership was recognized when Governor Frank White appointed him to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission.
While serving on the Columbia County Library Board, Derrell played an instrumental role in the sale of the old library building, the purchase of the former church building, and working with the architect to convert it into the library our community enjoys today. And for those who remember the Magnolia Follies of the 1970s — yes, Derrell was involved there too.
Throughout his life, Derrell has taken pride not only in his work, but in showing up — serving, participating, and giving his best wherever he committed his time. He believes meaningful work should be something a person enjoys, often saying that when you do what you love, it never truly feels like work.
In today’s podcast, we’ll hear WDR’s simple philosophy, how he met his wife, and the paradigm shift he’s noticed in downtown businesses over the years.