Charles Larry Rea

In Loving Memory

Charles Larry Rea

May 23, 1943 – September 27, 2025

Charles Larry Rea (82), of Germantown, TN, passed away Saturday, September 27, 2025. He was born in Little Rock, AR, on May 23, 1943.

He is survived by his wife, Miriam Rea, 60 years, December 2025; his son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Tammy Rea; his grandchildren Allison (29), Alexis (27), and Jaxson (16); his stepmom Juanita; his siblings Phillip, Kathy, Alexa and their families; his cousin Gary and family; and his cousin Bud.

Larry was preceded in death by his father, A.D. Rea; his mother, Elizabeth Rea; his aunt, Juanita; and his uncle, Perry.

Larry was born and raised in North Little Rock, AR, and attended the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he was a member of the marching band, worked for the school newspaper, and served as an on-campus reporter for the Arkansas Democrat in Little Rock. Larry was a die-in-the-wool Razorback fan. Larry worked at the Arkansas Democrat from 1962 to 1967 before going to The Commercial Appeal in July 1967.

During Larry’s tenure at The Commercial Appeal (July 1967 to January 2001), he covered all aspects of sports, including the Indianapolis 500, NASCAR events, college football bowl games, National Junior Olympic Championships, American Legion World Series, and Bassmaster Classic.

As the Prep Editor (1967-1988), he co-founded the Best of the Preps awards program. He was the first person honored by the Lawrenceburg Touchdown Club as its Prep Writer of the Year in 1981. In 1987, he was awarded The Commercial Appeal Best of the Preps (BOP) Service Award and dedicated to coverage of the Memphis Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Service Award. In 1995, he was awarded by the Tennessee Sportswriters. Association, Outdoor Writer of the Year. In 1997, he was awarded the TWRA Outstanding Efforts in communicating an appreciation of the outdoors to Tennessee Youth. In 2001, he was awarded the TWRA, For Many Years of Promoting Wildlife and Conservation in the State of Tennessee. In 2009, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sportswriters Association’s Hall of Fame.

As the Outdoor Editor (1988-2001), his responsibilities included serving as director of the Mid-South Junior Fishing Rodeo, which was held for 51 years before his retirement. Since then, he continued by association with this event as the Director of the TWRA Mid-South Junior Fishing Rodeo held annually on Free Fishing Day in Tennessee. More than 70,000 youth ages 6-12 have fished in the rodeo, which is among the oldest of its kind in the U.S.

Larry took an early retirement from The Commercial Appeal in January 2001 and joined the sales team at Dowdle Sports, Inc., one of the oldest and respected sporting goods firms in Memphis. Larry spent three years at Dowdle, and he returned to his roots as a free-lance writer for The Commercial Appeal. Since August 2014, he had written weekly outdoors columns on Sundays for The Commercial Appeal. On July 2, 2017, he celebrated his 50th anniversary as a writer/radio show host in Memphis.

Outdoors with Larry Rea went on the air in August 2001 on WMC-AM 790 on Saturday mornings from 6-7:30. Larry was always so thankful for their sponsors and Entercom Radio’s support. They have not missed one show in more than 25 years. The show, his website, www.lroutdoors.com, has won multiple state, regional, and national awards.

In September 2016, he was named Editor for the Mid-South Hunting Fishing News, a once-a-month publication celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017.

In August 2017, Larry received the coveted first Wade Bourne Outdoor Communicator of the Year award from Garry Mason’s Legends of the Outdoor Hall of Fame and Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame, a personal contributor. In 2022, Larry was awarded the Tennessee Wildlife Federation Conservation Communicator Award and the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame.

Larry was a member of the Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association (past president and lifetime member), Southern Outdoor Press Association (past member of the Board of Directors), Ducks Unlimited, and National Wild Turkey Federation.

Larry and his wife Mariam would have celebrated 60 years of marriage together in December 2025.

For more than 37 years, Larry and Miriam served the Lord faithfully at Cherry Road Baptist Church in East Memphis, where he was a deacon, youth Sunday School teacher, and sang in the choir.

In September 2009, the Lord called Larry and Miriam to Bartlett Hills Baptist Church in Bartlett. Larry taught Adult Sunday School, served as a deacon, sang in the choir, and was part of the church’s Men’s Ministry Team.

He sang this song that was one of his favorites, “Through it all,” as the song says, “I’ve trusted in God, knowing that God is good…ALL THE TIME.” He loved the Lord and did his best to be faithful to Him. He’s now in a better place and with others who recently were called home.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.