Rogers Badgett

James Rogers Badgett Sr.(July 27, 1917 – June 6, 2005), sometimes spelled asRodgersBadgett, was an American businessman involved in theconstruction,coal mining,oil and gasexploration,dredging,aviation,andautomotivesales industries, and a key minority partner in theBoston Red SoxofMajor League Baseballfrom 1978 through 1985.Born inPettus, Arkansas,he graduated fromMemphis'Messick High Schooland attended theUniversity of Tennessee.He was a longtime resident ofMadisonville, Kentucky.

He owned and operated Badgett Construction Company before World War II, and during the war he founded Badgett Mine Stripping Corporation, which minedbauxiteinMissouri,then moved into thestrip miningof coal inKentucky'sHopkinsandMuhlenbergcounties.After the war, his construction and dredging company was involved in major projects throughout North America, such as theSt. Lawrence Seaway,and globally, inKuwaitand the United Arab Emirates.

Backed 1977 Red Sox ownership bid

In 1977, Badgett teamed with former Red Soxathletic trainerBuddy LeRoux—and, eventually, club vice presidentHaywood Sullivan—to create an ownership syndicate seeking to purchase the team from the estate of late ownerTom Yawkey.The LeRoux–Sullivan bid was successful, although the sale was not approved by theAmerican Leagueuntil May 23, 1978, when Yawkey's widow,Jean,joined the group herself.LeRoux, Sullivan and Mrs. Yawkey becamegeneral partnersunder the terms of the sale, with Badgett remaining alimited partner.However, he held 12 of the team's 30 limited partner sharesand at one point he and LeRoux combined controlled 42 percent of Red Sox stock.

The ownership group soon clashed over the Red Sox' operating and fiscal policy, and ruptured publicly on June 6, 1983, when LeRoux (with Badgett's support) attempted to unseat Yawkey and Sullivan and take control of the team, a gambit nicknamed the "Coup LeRoux".After a year-long legal battle, Yawkey and Sullivan prevailed in June 1984. In the autumn of 1985, Yawkey acquired the limited partner shares held by Badgett and the LeRoux faction.

Honors

Badgett received numerous honors and awards recognizing his business career and philanthropy, including "Coal Miner of the Year" from the Western Kentucky Coal Producers' Association, "Man of the Year" from the Lions Club and "Distinguished Eagle Scout" from theBoy Scouts of America.He died in Madisonville at age 87.