Rogers Redding, the former National Coordinator of College Football Officiating (CFO) who the NFF honored in 2010 with its Outstanding Football Official Award and again in 2019 with an NFF Legacy Award, passed away April 7. He was 81.

"We had the privilege of honoring Rogers Redding in 2010 as the recipient of the NFF Outstanding Football Official Award, and we quickly forged a partnership with him to support his efforts to improve officiating and enhance player safety," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "He was a giant among those who have worn the college football stripes, and he without question left a positive mark on our game. We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and many friends."

Having officiated football for more than three decades, Redding started his career working high school football in Texas. He later officiated in the Southwest Conference from 1988-93 before serving as a referee in the Southeastern Conference for nearly a decade and working three national championship games.

Following his retirement from active officiating in 2004, Redding served as a technical advisor and instant replay official for the SEC before becoming the conference's coordinator of officials. From 2011 to 2020, Redding served as the national coordinator of CFO, which functions as the national professional organization for all football officials who work games at the collegiate level.

Redding also held the position of NCAA secretary-rules editor from 2008-17, working to enhance policies for the consistent application of NCAA playing rules in all games. His tenure saw the institution of instant replay across the FBS and the addition of the eight-person officiating system. Redding helped launch a partnership between the CFO and the NFF, which continues to this day, helping generate awareness for the rule changes in college football.

Redding post-season assignments included three national championship games: the 1991 Orange Bowl (Colorado-Notre Dame); 1993 Sugar Bowl (Alabama-Miami); and 1998 Rose Bowl (Michigan-Washington State). Other post-season honors included the 1998 Holiday Bowl (Nebraska-Arizona); 2001 Tangerine Bowl (Pittsburgh-North Carolina State); 2003 Las Vegas Bowl (New Mexico-UCLA); and the 2004 Gator Bowl (Maryland-West Virginia). He also was the referee in the 1999 SEC Championship game (Florida-Alabama).
 
Born in Frankfort, Kentucky, on July 15, 1942, Redding received his bachelor's degree from Georgia Tech in 1965 and later a master's and Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Vanderbilt University in 1969. He has served as a physics professor and senior academic administrator at the University of North Texas, Northern Kentucky University, the United States Air Force Academy and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He also had a small role as a referee in the 1991 comedy film "Necessary Roughness."
 
He is survived by his wife Shirley; siblings Lucy Pat Curl (Bill) and David Redding; four children Jeff Redding (Andy), Jon Redding (Lisa), Chris Rubrecht (Jamie), MacKenzie Pasteur (Chris); and ten grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to celebrate his life at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Birmingham on Friday, April 12 at 1 p.m. for the visitation and at 2 p.m. for the memorial service.. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dawson Memorial Baptist Church.