Herbert Louis McCoggins

Herbert Louis McCoggins, 89, died Saturday, March 4, 2017 in Rogers, Ark. The son of Virginia Guillot and Earl McCoggins, he was born at home in Pineville, La., on March 7, 1927 during the Great Mississippi River Flood, with his doctor arriving by boat to assist with his birth. He grew up in Tioga, Louisiana, graduated from Louisiana College. His wife, Sue Ellen Ford of Alexandria, La., preceded him in death in 1989. He is survived by their four daughters, Catherine Sue Allen and her husband Mike, Mary Ellen Petersen and her husband Albert, Carol Virginia McCoggins, and Jane Adele McCoggins and her husband, Kevin White. He also leaves seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. As a young boy, Herb began demonstrating his lifelong traits of initiative and boundless energy. Each day before school, he sold newspapers to Camp Livingston troops during the 1940-41 Louisiana Maneuvers. When he was 17, he enlisted in the Navy and served from 1945-48 as Signalman on the heavy cruiser Los Angeles. After returning home, he taught math for three years at Jonesboro-Hodge High School, was recalled to the Navy for six months during the Korean War, and then began his fulfilling 35-year career as an executive for the Boy Scouts of America. During his scouting years in Louisiana, he assumed responsibility for developing and directing Camp Avondale in Clinton and Camp Kiroli in West Monroe. He advanced through his career working as a District Executive in Monroe and Field Director in Baton Rouge. He then received a series of promotions including Field Service Director in Oklahoma City, Scout Executive for five years in Corpus Christi, and finally, 15 years as Council Executive in Tulsa. Wherever he served, he earned the respect and admiration of his staff, volunteers, community leaders and directors and the scouts that are the heart of the program. After retiring, Herb devoted his attention to favorite hobbies and new-found interests, including travel, fishing, woodworking, fishing, eagle watching, fishing, trading scouting memorabilia, fishing, and creating memories with his children and grandchildren, including fishing. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., March 7, 2017 at Central United Methodist Church, 2535 W. New Hope Rd., Rogers, Ark. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services in Rogers. Online condolences may be made to stockdalefuneral.com.