Courtesy of Michael V. Hannigan/Hannigan's Notebook

Photo Courtesy of Travis Tapley

East Texas sports fans already knew Benny Rogers was a legend, but now he has a plaque to prove it.

Rogers -- the TVCC Sports Information Officer and former Athens Review, The Malakoff News, and Cedar Creek Pilot sports editor -- was inducted into the Region XIV Men's Basketball Legends Class of 2024 Thursday night.

"I don't really consider myself a legend and never will," said Rogers. "I've just been privileged to be a part of this league in some capacity for over 40 years, and gotten to cover, watch and promote this league."

The award was presented during this year's Region XIV Tournament at Tyler Junior College Wagstaff Gym.

Rogers was inducted alongside four other media Legends: Manny Almanza, Kilgore College; Phil Hicks, Tyler Morning Telegraph; Mike Montfort, Navarro College; and Jack Stallard, Longview News Journal.

"To receive this honor with anybody else wouldn't have been the same," Rogers said.

The following is what was read when Rogers received his award:

"Benny Rogers joined the staff at TVCC in 2009 as the assistant public information officer and was named sports information officer in 2012. Among his duties as sports information officer, he serves the College as the chairman of the Cardinal Hall of Fame selection committee as well as provides play-by-play game coverage on Cardinal Sports Network webcasts. Rogers joined the Cardinal family after a 27-year career at the Athens Daily Review where he served as sports editor for the last 25 years. During his time at the Athens Daily Review, Rogers received numerous awards from Texas APME, TPA and NETPA for his coverage of sports in Henderson and the surrounding counties. Rogers is a lifelong resident of Malakoff and 1977 graduate of Malakoff High School. After high school, he attended TVCC from 1977-79 and was honored by the College in 2006 with the Distinguished Alumni Award at the Trinity Valley homecoming."