of Mayflower, AR

June 6, 1953 - August 9, 2024

Ronald F. Rolett was born June 6, 1953, in Brownsville, TN to Lum Rolett and Wilma Rolett.

In 1971, he married Rhonda Harrell and had two children, Jason and Leah.

Ron's love affair with the Boys & Girls Clubs began when he joined the North Little Rock Club when he was six years old. In 1977, he was the Club's delegate to the first Keystone Conference.

He held positions as Teen Director and Unit Director at the Club before being appointed as Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad, New Mexico. Prior to his retirement in 2016, Rolett served as Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Brazos Valley since 1990.

Rolett served on the task force to add Girls to the movement and change the name from Boys Clubs of America to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He was on the board of the Boys & Girls Workers Association and served as president for ten years prior to his retirement.

Over his 40 years as a professional, he mentored many young professionals, several of whom have moved on to other organizations. Three of his Club members have been recognized as the National Youth of the Year.

Rolett was honored with many awards during his tenure such as Jim Wetherington Southwesterner Award. To be considered for this award, an individual must, by thought, word and deed, be exemplary of the highest type of Boys and Girls Club professional. Rolett must have given 100 percent plus of himself in service to the development of Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Southwest Region and demonstrated initiative, imagination and creativity, along with the development of and sharing of program ideas, resource development programs and personnel programs.

Rolett was named to the elite group of Masters & Mentors in 2015. This prestigious award is the highest honor bestowed on Boys & Girls Club professionals by The Professional Association. The Masters and Mentors award was created to recognize and honor exceptional professionals who dedicate their lives to Clubs, have been integral to the success of the Boys & Girls Club Movement, and have shown a commitment to professional growth and excellence.

The Roletts were definitively members of the Boys & Girls Club family. Rolett's late son, Jason Rolett, was CEO at the BGC of Phillips County, AR. Jason passed away at age 41. For more than 10 years, his daughter Leah coached girls' basketball at the Club. Ron's brother, Dan Rolett, served as a BGC board member for the Clubs in Central Arkansas for several years - Dan was the 1979 national BGCA Youth of the Year.

On August 9, 2024, at the age of 71, Ron went to be with the Lord. He was preceded in death by his parents Lum Rolett and Wilma Rolett and son Jason Rolett.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Rhonda Rolett, of 53 years of Mayflower, AR; daughter, Leah Rolett of College Station, Texas; sister, Betty Huddleston (Jeff) of North Little Rock, AR; sister, Peggy Ayers (Tony) Conway AR; brother, Dan Rolett (Cheri) Mayflower, AR; granddaughters, Carter and Channing Rolett of College Station, Texas, and a host of family and close friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 11:00am, at First Baptist Church of Mayflower, with a visitation one hour prior to the service at 10:00am. Burial will follow at Mayflower Cemetery.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-McNutt Funeral Home
650 Central Landing Blvd.
Conway, AR  72032
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com