Rodney Earl Echols graduated from Lincoln High School (Forrest City, Arkansas) in 1970. He was a member of the last graduating class of Lincoln High School. Rodney earned his B.S. degree in general science from Harding College (now Harding University) in 1974. As a student-athlete at Harding, Rodney was named to the 1973 All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference football team. After graduating from Harding, Rodney enrolled in graduate studies at Arkansas State University. He earned the M.S.E. degree in secondary school leadership in 1977, an Ed.S. degree in curriculum and instruction (K-12) in 1980, and an Ed.D. degree in educational leadership in 2001.

During the summer of 1974, Rodney accepted a teaching contract from the Forrest City School District to teach science and assist in coaching football and basketball. In 1978, he was selected as the first African American head basketball coach at Forrest City High School. In his seven year tenure as head Mustang basketball coach, he coached a Class 4A State Runner-up team in 1980 and was an All-Star coach in 1980. During the 1984 season, his Mustang basketball team was Class 4A East Co-Champions. In 1985, he was the first African American to serve as director of transportation, maintenance, and custodial services in the Forrest City School District. Two years later, he was named deputy superintendent of the Forrest City School District, another first achievement. Rodney has also served as assistant superintendent in the Pine Bluff School District and superintendent of the Helena-West Helena School District.

In 2002, Rodney was named as an assistant professor of education at Lane College of Jackson, Tennessee. He was appointed Chair of the Division of Liberal Studies and Education at Lane College in 2004. In 2005, Rodney was named graduate assistant professor of education in the Department of Educational Studies, Leadership, and Counseling, College of Education, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky.

Rodney returned to his hometown of Forrest City in the spring of 2006. He would serve as athletic administrator for 10 years. Rodney was the first African American to serve as athletic administrator in the Forrest City School District. During his tenure as athletic administrator, he instituted seventh grade football, re-established volleyball, and re-established the athletic sports banquet in 2007. In 2007 and 2008, Rodney restructured the athletic budget and coaching positions to comply with Forrest City School District fiscal distress (state control) designation and reduction of athletic funds to preserve a competitive and functional athletic program. Between 2006 and 2015, the track program, without a track, continued to perform at a high level winning eight conference championships and four state championships. In addition, other team sports won seven conference championships and a state runner-up and state championship in basketball.

As chairperson of the 5A East Conference, Rodney revised the Conference Constitution with review and approval of conference athletic administrators in 2008-2009. He was the 5A East “Athletic Administrator of the Year” in 2009, and taught a professional development course with Doug Kilgore at the Arkansas Athletic Administrators Conference in 2014. Rodney received the Frank Kovaleski Award in 2015, and was inducted into the Forrest City Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. He spent a total of 41 years in the education profession, 29 of which were in the Forrest City School District. For eight years, Rodney has served as the Executive Director of the Forrest City Athletic Hall of Fame organization. He is a member of Saint Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church, Forrest City, and has served as a Steward and Trustee.
Rodney and his wife, Ardelia, have three children, Martina, Rodney, Jr., and Preston. Martina Smith, Esquire and her husband Leonard live in Sherwood; Rodney, Jr. (athletic administrator Hot Springs School District) and his wife Taryn live in Hot Springs; and Preston (assistant principal Conway Junior High School) and his wife Carise live in Conway. Rodney and Ardelia have five granddaughters; Aubrey, Emory, Imani, Lyndsey, and Zoe, and one grandson, Ethan.