Michael Rodgers Deaderick
Michael Rodgers Deaderick died on February 3, 2023 at the age of 80. Born and raised in Forrest City, Arkansas, Mike was preceded in death by his parents Carrelyn Eldridge Deaderick and John Rodgers Deaderick. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Blanche (Buckingham), his sister Camille, his brother David (Jody), his nephews, David (Whitney), John Deaderick, and Rob Buckingham (Lou), his niece, Anne Buckingham (Steve), and many cousins.
Mike attended Southwestern at Memphis, now Rhodes College, and received his B.A. and M.A. in history from the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of Phi Alpha Theta, national honorary history society, and a member and officer of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity. He worked on his doctorate in American history at Louisiana State University and began a 25-year career in education, teaching at the University of Memphis and the Joint University Center (University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee). After college he joined the Air National Guard and retired with the rank of captain.
In 1970, he joined the faculty at Memphis University School. There he found his greatest passion, which was always for his work with students--teaching, mentoring, and guiding them. At MUS he taught ten different history courses, served as Director of Student Activities, as Chairman of the History and Social Studies Department, and held an endowed chair for teaching excellence, the Ross M. Lynn Chair of History. His students honored him with the John M. Nail Award for Excellence in Teaching, and he was designated a Rockefeller Foundation Scholar, an award given by the national Organization of American Historians for excellence in teaching and for contributions to the history profession. He was elected to Phi Delta Kappa an international honorary organization for recognizing outstanding educators. In 2011 the MUS Alumni Executive Board honored Mike by including him in the MUS Faculty Portrait Series.
In 1992, Mike began a second career, one in commercial real estate with the Poag and Mcewen Company, and then the Spectra Group, developing Wal-mart shadowed shopping centers throughout the United States He was senior project developer for numerous retail centers in five states.
One of the most important parts of Mike’s life was Idlewild Presbyterian Church, which he joined in 1966. There he served the congregation as a deacon and as an elder, taught adult and youth classes, and was superintendant of the adult Sunday School. Mike’s dedication to the well-being of children of all ages and from all backgrounds and circumstances led him to Porter-leath Children’s Center, where he was board president. For his work there the Child Welfare League of America named him Outstanding Board Leader. In retirement Mike continued his educational pursuits, tutoring American history at Idlewild Elementary School, and teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) for adult migrants as a volunteer with Literacy Mid-south. He also published peer-reviewed and award winning papers in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly and the West Tennessee Historical Society Papers.
All his life Mike enjoyed music and sports. At a young age he played football, baseball, golf, and tennis. He loved all kinds of music from rock and roll to sacred music, playing the pipe organ for church services during high school and college and singing with the Memphis Oratorio Society, the Calvary Episcopal Church Messiah Chorus, and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra Chorus. But his favorite was playing the piano in a rock band during his college years.
A memorial service will be held at Idlewild Presbyterian Church at 11 AM on Friday, February 10. After the service the family will receive visitors in the T.K. Young room. Memorials may be sent to Idlewild Presbyterian Church or to a charity of the donor’s choice.