Carolina Panthers: DFW's Newest Addition

[Reginald Rutledge]

The last owner of the Carolina Panthers was Chris Woods. I dedicated my 2007 run to the title to Chris. We won the title last year.

Chris was the son of Pep Woods. He tragically committed suicide last year at the age of 14 years old, the age of my son Reginald.

Chris and I were really close. Rose and I loved him like our own son. He use to stay at our house and go eat with my family. Before the Shootout last year, Chris asked me if he could stay home (and his Dad) and help on the 308s for the Shootout. Chris and I talked about school and what's going on in his lately. Shortly thereafter, he was dead. I had given Chris a team of Panthers to play with in the league. He had some other Panthers but he insisted on using my Panthers. When he won, he won with the Panthers I gave him. When he lost, he lost with the other Panthers.

Chris had all the ingredients to be a great coach. He loved the game. He had enthusiasm and wanted to learn. Michael Robertson and myself took a special interest in Chris and wanted to teach him so much about the game. It never materialized.

It would be an honor to have such a good guy like yourself Joel, come into the league with the Carolina franchise. We do still consider each franchise to have history even though someone else may own them. So we think you will carry the Panthers tradition to greater scales. We look forward to you competing for the DFW Championship and want you not to get frustrated on your battles up the ladder. We know you will do great.

I love the Panthers. You did a great job and I know Chris would be proud to have you take over that franchise as well.

Reginald Rutledge
DFW Founder 1995