Rogers Collins, former chairman and CEO of Harps Food Stores, died July 1, the company announced.
Collins began working at Harps in December of 1986 as vice president of finance and was promoted to CEO in 2000.
He resigned from the CEO position in November of 2016, passing the title to COO Kim Eskew, and retained the chairman position until November of 2018.
“Roger will be remembered for transforming our company culture and for his indomitable competitive spirit,” the company said in a press release. “His passion for excellence, integrity, and a people-first approach inspired everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.
“Roger was not just a leader; he was a mentor, a friend, and a source of inspiration. We owe him a great deal, as today we stand on his shoulders as employee owners with a bright future made possible by the foundation he helped forge.”
As CEO, he oversaw the transition of the company from family-owned to employee-owned in 2001. During his tenure as CEO, the company nearly doubled its brick-and-mortar footprint from 42 to 82 stores. During that time, sales increased 110%, according to the company.
Harps now employs over 7,200 associates and operates 148 stores across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kansas.