Graduated from Mansfield High School in 1961, attended Westark (Ft. Smith), 1963, and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 1966.
After teaching a year at Marshall, Hainley began coaching track at Waldron High School in 1968. The girls teams won the Ouachita College Relays for several years during her tenure. Along with Helen Parker of Ashdown, the two were instrumental in expanding the state track meet to include all classes for girls in 1973. Later she was active in getting girls track added to the Meet of Champs.
Hainley’s Waldron teams won the 1973 state championship and her teams continued to excel by finishing in the top five the next several years, winning three more state championships. At one time her Waldron junior high track team had won twenty-six straight track meets. She was called upon several times over her coaching career to serve on the AAA’s Track and Field Advisory Committee as one of the most knowledgeable track coaches in the state representing girls track.
Hainley retired from full time teaching and coaching in 1999 but continues to be actively involved during the track season working high school meets at the local, conference and state level.
Dariel W. Johnson:
Little Rock Central (1975) and Arkansas State University (1980). In 1974 as a junior Johnson turned in the fastest times in the state in the high (13.9) and low (19.1) hurdles, winning both races in the Meet of Champions. In 1975 Johnson was one of the nation’s premier hurdlers and named the Most Outstanding Performer in the Class AAAA state track meet. On March 22, 1975, as a senior Johnson ran the fastest hurdle times in the nation in the high (13.6) and low (18.7) hurdles.
In the 1975 state meet Johnson ran ten races in one day --including four prelims, three finals and three relays -- winning high-point honors with 18 ½ points as he led Central to a tie with Pine Bluff for the state championship. His winning hurdle times equaled the state records (13.8 highs and 18.8 lows).
A member of all three Tiger relay teams, he also ranked number one in the state in the 220-yard dash (21.6) and among the best in the state in the 100-yard dash (9.7).
Johnson was a Central High Sports Hall of Fame inductee. He was named All State his junior and senior years and posted twin victories in the Meet of Champions both his junior and senior seasons. He concluded his high school track career by again posting the best time (13.6) ever run by an Arkansas high school high hurdler while competing in the prestigious Golden West Invitational in Sacramento, California. Johnson’s 1976 Arkansas State University team won its first ever Southland Conference track championship and followed with a repeat in 1977. He ran on two school record relays, 1600 meter (3:08.4) and 240-shuttle hurdles and was ASU’s school record holder in the 400-meter hurdles (51.7). Additionally, he was named All American in his freshman year and was a four-year letterman at ASU.
Dr. Bill Nutter:
Nutter attended Conway High School (1950 - 1953) where he earned three track letters, and was awarded the Frank Robins Outstanding Athlete Award in 1953. At Hendrix College (1953 - 1957) he lettered four years in track and received the Hugh Robertson Outstanding Athlete Award in 1957.
Nutter’s coaching career included Conway High School (1959 - 1963) where his teams won state championships in 1960 and in 1963. He was voted Arkansas High School Track Coach of the Year in 1963. He served as assistant track coach at North Carolina State from 1963 - 1965. He then returned to Arkansas and served at the University of Central Arkansas as an assistant track coach (1965 - 1968) and was head track coach (1968 - 1973.) His 1969 team won the AIC track championship and he was voted AIC Coach of the Year.
He was also named District 17 NAIA and Area 5’s Coach of the Year. His 1969 team placed sixth in the national meet, which was the highest finish on record for an AIC team Two of his athletes were named All Americans. Nutter also served as Chairman of Arkansas AAU long distance running committee for several years and was called upon to make presentations at numerous track clinics. In 2001, Nutter was inducted into the Hendrix College Sports Hall of Honor.
Don Pierce:
Crossett High School, Jessieville High School, Track Official and Administrator.
• Graduated from Crossett High School in 1979 and won the Meet of Champs in the pole vault.
• Pierce has been the leader in starting and continuing Indoor Track & Field for Arkansas high school competition including a state championship that has grown to a very large event involving many athletes. The indoor track program got started in the early 1990’s and Pierce has continued to be the Meet Director in charge of the program ever since.
• State Meet Referee for AAA, host and track administrator.
• Has served as the president of the Arkansas Track Coaches Association.
• Serving as the head track & field coach at Jessieville for a number of years, Pierce coached his teams to numerous conference championships and two state championships.
• Now serving as president of the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Godfrey Siamusiye:
UA, Fayetteville,1995-97, and 1997 Olympian.
• The only runner in U of A history to win back to back NCAA cross country titles, 1995-96
• Four-time NCAA champion, twice in 10000 meters and twice in cross country
• Member of four NCAA championship teams while at the University of Arkansas
• Nine-time All American – 3 times indoor, 4 times outdoor and 2 times cross country
• Ten-time SEC champion – 2 indoor 5000 meters, 2 outdoor 5000 meters, 2 outdoor 3000 meter steeplechase, 2 outdoor 10000 meters and 2 cross country
• Semifinalist in the 3000 meter steeplechase in the 1996 centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, representing his native country of Zambia
• Two-time US Track Coaches Association cross country athlete of the year, 1995-96
• Two-time SEC Commissioner’s Trophy winner, 1995 and 1996
• Coached the Shiloh Christian Saints boys cross country team to the 3A state championship, 2007
Joe Wessell:
Paragould High School and ASTC (UCA):
• Native of Paragould, Arkansas
• Graduated from Paragould High School 1959
• Graduated from ASTC (UCA) 1964
• Ran track at ASTC 1962 through 1964
• Competed in 100 yard dash and all relays
• Participated in 3 AIC Conference Championships
• Coached track for 3 years at Paragould High School
• Began starting track meets in 1969
• Head starter for University of Arkansas since 1987
• Started World Police and Fire Games in 1988
• Head starter for Ole Miss since1991
• Started 12 outdoor SEC Conference meets since 1987
• Started 3 SEC indoor meets
• Chosen as one of the starters for NCAA indoor meets in 2001 & 2002
• Received Service Award from the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2006 for 37 years of starting.
2007 Inductees
Charles M. Adcock:
(Deceased) Little Rock Central and Arkansas Tech. As a sports reporter for the Arkansas Democrat (1952-53 and 1958-61), had major responsibility for covering the AIC with an emphasis on high school and college track and field each spring. Commissioner of the AIC, 1961-1974. Organized and directed conference track and cross country championships. Had a leadership role in bringing the first national track meet to Arkansas, the NAIA meet held at Henderson State, serving as its director. In the next three NAIA national meets was head photo-finish judge. For many years was a timer, then head timer for high school local and state track meets.
Kenny Evans:
UA, Fayetteville, 1998-2001. Arguably one of the greatest high jumpers to come out of Arkansas, Evans was an eight-time All-American and 1998 NCAA Indoor high jump champion. He was a three-time SEC Indoor high jump champion in 1999 (7-4.5), 2000 (7-0.5) and 2001 (7-1.75) and the 1998 SEC Outdoor high jump champion. He cleared his career best of 7-7 at the 2000 NCAA Indoor Championships. Evans helped contribute to eight national championship teams, including the 1998-99 squad the claimed UA’s fifth NCAA triple crown. He still holds the outdoor school record in the high jump at 7-6.50. He represented the United States in the high jump at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Jay Flanagan:
Arkansas State University, Jonesboro. Head Men’s and Women’s Track coach since 1989 and Cross Country coach since 1987. In Cross Country, American South Conference champ and Men’s Coach of the Year in 1987. In Track, ASC Women’s indoor champs, 1988 through 1991; Women’s outdoor champs 1988 through 1990; Women’s Coach of the Year 1990-1991; Men’s indoor champs 1989-1990; Men’s outdoor champ 1989. Sunbelt Conference champs: Women’s indoor 1992, 1995, 1998; Women’s outdoor 1994, 1995, 1998; Men’s indoor 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000; Men’s outdoor 1999; Women’s Coach of the Year 1992, 1994, 1998; Men’s Coach of the Year 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000. Had NCAA All-Americans 1998 through 1993, 1996 and 2000. Olympic team members 1988, 1992, 1996 (2) and 2000 (4). Similar achievements at Murray State University, Carthage College and Adrian College for championships as well as NAIA and NCAA honors. 3703 Blueridge Circle, Jonesboro AR 72401.
Damon Martin:
Damon attended U of A Monticello where he was two times named All-American in track. In 1984 he won the 800 and 1500 meters and finished 2nd in the 5000 at the AIC championships. In 1985 he finished in 2nd place in the NAIA national championships in the 1500. He was All-conference seven times and has the UAM school record in the 1500 meters, mile and 5000 meters. He qualified for Olympic trials at 5000 meters in 1988. Martin has been the head women’s track and cross country coach at Adams State since 1989 and men’s coach since 1996. His teams have won 32 conference titles and 14 national championships. He has been named conference coach of the year 27 times and national coach of the year 14 times at the Division II NCAA level. He has coached 397 All-Americans and 45 individual national champions. In 2003 his men’s and women’s teams won the Division II national cross country championships. Damon is in the top five ever in total track and cross country national championships and the Division II level.
Richard Martin, Jr.:
University of Central Arkansas. Four-year track letterman at UCA. In 1974, ran 220 in 21.5 in AIC championship meet and finished 2nd in 100-yd dash with 9.75. In 1975 AIC meet won 100-yd dash in 10.0, anchored the 440 relay in a school record 40.9, anchored the mile relay in 3:16.1 and finished 2nd in 220 with 21.7. Won AIC individual high point with 23 points, leading UCA to the AIC championship. In 1975, UCA’s mile relay team was 2nd at NAIA national, setting a school record of 3:08.96. Became assistant UCA track coach in 1977 and head UCA track coach 1982 to present. Teams he coached won five conference championships, and he was five-time NAIA District 17 Coach of the Year Area 5 and five-times AIC Coach of the Year. Coached three national champs 1986-89. Women’s cross country championship in 1998 and named Gulf South Coach of the Year. Has coached thirty (30) UCA athletes that have been named All-Americans.
Bill Runyan:
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, (1959-1962). Bill started his track career at Pulaski Heights Junior High in 1954 where he lettered as an eighth and ninth grader. He put the shot, threw the discus, broad jumped, high jumped, ran the 50,100,220 yard dash and the 440 and 880 relays. In 1954 PHJH was 2nd in Big 11 Junior High State Track meet. In 1955 PHJH won the Big 11 where he ran on state record-breaking 440 & 880 yd relays. He moved to Crossett in the fall of 1955 and ran the 220 yd dash, and on the 440 yd., 880 yd., and mile relays. In 1956 Crossett came in 3rd in the state meet. In l957, he again ran the 220 yd dash, 440, 880 and the mile relays and ran the open quarter for the first time. His times rivaled those of Bruce Fullerton of Little Rock Central. He or Bruce would lead the state in the fastest times that year. Bill's best time was 50.6 and he went on to win the AA State Title in the 440 yd run. Crossett won state in 1957. In l958, again he ran the 220, 440, 880 and mile relays and the open quarter and again traded fastest times in the state with Bruce Fullerton. In 1958 he placed 2nd at state in the open quarter and Crossett again won the State Championship. He never lost a race on the Crossett HS track. Bill went to the University of Arkansas Fayetteville on a Track Scholarship and in 1959 won the Southwest Conference Freshman quarter mile in 48.9 sec. During that year he also placed 3rd in the Fort Worth Invitational in the 440 yard dash. He went on to run on the mile relay team and in 1961, as a junior he was the lead-off leg of the Distance Medley Relay at the Kansas Relays where his team placed 3rd. He received a freshman numeral in 1959, lettered his next three years and in 1962 as a senior was elected Captain of the U of A Track Team. He was inducted into the Ashley County Sports Hall of Fame in February 2005.
Ken Stephens:
University of Central Arkansas. Two-time NAIA track All-America. National runner-up in the 120-yard high hurdles in 1951 and ’52, becoming the first Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference athlete to make All-American two years in a row in any sport. Won four consecutive AIC championships in 120-yard high hurdles. Stephens never lost a high hurdle race during his college career except for those two national meets. At UCA and Conway High School, he regularly competed in six events — the high and low hurdles, broad jump, 440 relay, 880 relay and, occasionally, the 100-yard dash. At Conway High School, finished as the high point winner in the Arkansas high school state track meet in 1948 when the Wampus Cats finished third behind Little Rock and Camden. While his coaching career was mostly focused on football, he also coached track at Crossett in 1953, Bethany (Okla.) in 1954, Walnut Ridge in 1957-58, Conway in 1959-60 and North Little Little Rock from 1963-70. Coached Carl Lowe, the state’s fastest sprinter, at North Little Rock in 1967-68. Still holds UCA’s record for interceptions in a game with five. Coached UCA football teams to four AIC titles and one national runner-up finish and NLRHS teams to three state championships in football. Inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
2006 Inductees
Glynn Fields:
Baylor University 1960-63. In November 2005 he was inducted into the Baylor Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1963 as a senior he was named Baylor’s Outstanding Track Athlete. He earned 30.5 points in SWC Conference meets over 3 years, 2nd highest total points in Baylor’s track history. In 1963, as the SWC High Point winner with 12 points, he helped Baylor win 1st in the SWC Conference Meet by running on the 1st place 440 relay and 3rd place Mile relay teams, and placing 2nd in the 100 and 220 dashes. In 1962, as High Point runner-up, he helped Baylor win 1st in the SWC Conference Meet, by running on the 1st place 440 and Mile relay teams, and placing 2nd in the 100 and 220-yard dashes. In 1961, Baylor placed 2nd in the SWC Conference Meet. In 1961, 1962, his, 44 and, 880 relay teams, won 1st at Kansas and Drake Relays. In 1960, Baylor Freshmen won 1st in the SWC Conference Meet and his 440 & mile relay teams set the SWC Freshman records of 41.0 and 3:15.5 respectfully while his 440 team set the world record for the freshman 440 relay (40.7 sec). He ran the best 440-dash (47.8 sec) freshman time in the nation. In 1957 & 58 he ran for the State Track Champion LRCHS. His 440 team ran a top 10 time of 42.9 in the US in 1958. His mile relay team set the state record of 3:25.5 in 1958. When LRCHS closed 1958-59 he ran for Southwest DeKalb High School, in DeKalb, Georgia. In 1959 as a senior he was named the Top High School Track Athlete in the State of Georgia, won the 100 and 440 dashes, and set the Montgomery, Alabama, Coliseum Relays broad jump record 22’ 9¼” that had stood for approx. 20 years.
Megan Flowers:
Ft. Worth, TX. Flowers was a four-time Kinney All American and twice the Southern region cross country champion1989 and 1991 champion. In 1992 Megan ran for Villanova and, as a freshman, was 7th at the Big East cross country meet and 67th at the NCAA meet. She also qualified for the NCAA championships in the 3000 meters, both indoor and outdoor placing 10th indoors, earning All-American. In 1994 at Arkansas Megan won the SEC cross country championships and 4th place in the NCAA championships. She was named SEC female runner of the year. Indoors she was SEC 5000 meter champion and placed third in the NCAA. In 1995 Megan finished 11th at the NCAA cross country meet. She won the SEC 5000 meter indoor title and finished third at the NCAA met in 16:02. She placed second at the SEC outdoor meet, running the 10,000 meters in 35:35. In 1996 Megan won the SEC conference3000 meters in 9:32 and posted a career best at the nationals, running 9:21. Outdoors she posted one the fastest times in the nation of 16.17 in the 5000 meters and was All-SEC and All-American. Career marks were – indoors: Mile – 4:48; 3000 m – 9:21; 5000 m – 16:02 and outdoors: 1500 m – 4:32; 3000 m – 9:21; 5000 m 16:17; 10 K – 35:35. She was 10 times All-American, 3 times SEC champion, 7 times All-SEC, 2 time SEC athlete of the year, 2 time academic All-American and 1 time SEC cross country champion.
Dennis Fulmer:
Conway HS and UCA (1954-1958). High point man in high school jr. and sr. years when team won state championships. Team won the conference all three hs years and Fulmer was high point in last two years. In his sr. year he was the holder of 12 individual meet, conference and school records. Named Outstanding Athlete at 1954 Mid-South Relays in Memphis. Was offered several track and/or football scholarships, accepted Mississippi State. Ran a 9.9 100-yard dash that spring. Returned to Conway and UCA in his freshman year. His track team was AIC champion his sophomore and junior year. He was high point man, won the 100 yd dash in 9.9 and set a new AIC 220-yard dash record of 21.5 in 1956. Fulmer was one of three AIC athletes invited to the NAIA Nationals in California. In 1957 he won the 100 yd dash and was on the winning 440 yd relay team. Coached in Jacksonville before returning to Conway as Jr. high track coach, winning the district and state track meet, undefeated in 1965. Following year promoted to sr. high track coach with first cross country team winning state in 1966. Later served as football coach and A.D. at Conway. Left public education in 1977 for private business.
Lance Harter:
As a 1972 graduate of Texas Tech, Harter set several school records as a member of the track and cross country teams. Career accomplishments as a coach are numerous. INDOOR TRACK: His Lady Razorback teams won back-to-back conference championships in 2000 and 2001 with their highest national finish (3rd) in 2000. Harter was twice the National Coach of the Year and South Central Region Coach of the year in 2000 and 2001. He coached four of Arkansas’ five NCAA National Champions. OUTDOOR TRACK: Lady Razorbacks also won back-to-back conference championships in 2000 and 2001 with their best finish (5th) in 2001. Harter was National Coach of the Year in 2000 and South Central Region Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2001. He coached Arkansas’ only NCAA Outdoor champions (2). His teams garnered six Division II titles and Cal Poly-SLO. His team achieved the SEC record for team points at a conference meet with 182. CROSS COUNTRY: Nine SEC championships, ten NCAA regional titles at UAF, eight time SEC Coach of the Year, four time Division I runner-up at UAF and eight division titles. INTERNATIONAL: 1999 Head Coach for Team USA’s World Championship Team; 1992 U.S. Olympic Team Assistant; 1987 Team USA Coach, World XC Meet; 1985 Team USA Coach, World Indoor Meet.
Billy Kyser:
Camden HS, University of Arkansas Fayetteville. Camden all?sports competitor in 1954, 1955, 1956. Ran 100 & 200 yard dashes, anchored 440, 880, & mile relays, also broad jumped. As a senior in 1956 set Divisional HS State record in 220 yd dash (22.4 sec.) At UAF, he lettered in Track in 1957, 1958 and 1959, Ran 100 & 220 yard dashes, on 440, 880, and sprint medley relays. In 1958 he ran 220 leg on team that won 1st in Sprint Medley Relay at Texas Relays in 1:50.5. His career best 100-yard dash time was 9.6 competing against Olympic gold?medallist Bobby Morrow at 1958 Texas Relays. At UAF, Kyser also lettered in football 1957, 1958, and 1959. He continued to run in 5K and 10K races in the state during the 70’s and 80’s.
Derek Russell:
Little Rock Central: During his senior year Russell was an All-America performer in both football and track and field. He led the nation in both his junior and senior seasons in the 110-meter high hurdles with a 13.4. That mark, which was recorded in 1986, is currently the overall and Meet of Champions record. During his senior season Russell posted season best of 10.5 in the 100-meter dash, 21.5 in the 200-meter dash, 13.4 in the 110-meter high hurdles and 37.8 in the 300-intermediate hurdles. Russell finished third in the Golden West Relays in the 110-meter high hurdles in 1987 with a 13.78.
Bill Stephens:
Conway HS, UCA. In 1951 Stephens was the state hurdles champion and state high-point runner-up. He was ranked nationally in the top 20 in the low hurdles. As a UCA athlete Stephens won the hurdles in the AIC track meet and was ranked in the NAIA hurdle listings, qualifying to run in the NAIA championships. He coached in the Conway Public Schools from 1963 through 1967 and later took Carlisle to six district titles, 1956 through 1961. As the UCA coach Stephens’ teams won two AIC titles and he was named three times as AIC and NAIA District 17 Coach of the Year. He coached 12 All-Americans. He coached AIC All-Stars in Mexico in 1979. He oversaw the building of a new track at UCA that was named the Bill Stephens Track. Stephens was involved in high school and college athletics for 43 years. He also served in the Arkansas state legislature for 22 years.
2005 Inductees
Dr. William K. Bell,
Sr.: Now in his 80’s, Dr. Bell has broken several age-group world records, one being his 9’1/4" clearance at the USA Masters in Boston. Since Boston, he has cleared 9’3", and looks like 9’6" is well within reach. His event pr’s of 12.5 in the 100 m and 11’10’ in the pole vault were both set at the age of 50. Bell has participated actively and has won numerous events in the Arkansas Senior Olympics.
Edward L. Morton:
University of Arkansas – Fayetteville (1952-57). From Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba, Canada. In 1948, 9th grade, Morton was 1st in the Provincial Half Mile. In 1950 and 1951, 11th and 12th grade, he was Manitoba’s high school mile champion. In 1951 he was also the Canadian National High School Mile champion, and came in 4th in the half-mile. In 1952, as a freshman at the UA, he set the freshman mile record at 4:28.9. He left school and upon returning, in the spring of 1955, as a sophomore, he placed 2nd in the SWC Mile. In the fall of 1955, he won the SWC Cross Country 3-mile in 15:00.1. That same year in the NCAA Cross Country he placed 14th becoming the UA’s 1st All-American distance runner and the 3rd UA All-American in Track after Clyde Scott (1948) and Lee Yoder (1952). In the spring of 1956 he won the SWC Mile in 4:21.4. That fall he placed 2nd in the SWC Cross Country championship, leading his team to the 1956 SWC Team Cross Country Championship. That fall he also placed 10th in the NCAA Cross Country meet earning his 2nd All-American designation, the UA’s fourth. In the spring of 1957 he was 3rd in the SWC mile in his last year of eligibility. In 1958, he won the Glenn Cunningham (open) mile at the Kansas Relays, won the Canadian Mile championship, competed for Canada in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Wales, running a career-best 4:07.6 in the mile. In 1959 he coached the UA cross-country team that won the 1959 SWC Cross-Country Championship.
Ed Renfrow:
In 1960, at Charleston HS, set the State Class B record in the 120 yd. high hurdles and won the Meet of Champs in 14.9 sec., at that time the 2nd fastest time ever run in Arkansas HS track. In 1964, at the UA, he ran 13.9 to become the 2nd fastest UA high hurdler after Clyde Scott and placed 7th in the 1964 NCAA Outdoor Track meet. Renfrow started his coaching career at Woodland Junior High in Fayetteville in 1965, moving next to Neosho, Missouri, where he started the cross-country program in 1967. From 1970 until 1977 he was the UA’s Head Coach for Men’s Cross-country and Track. From 1979, when he started the program, until 1981, he was the UA’s first Head Coach for Women’s Cross Country and Track. During that time at the UA, he was able to work on and complete his Doctorate. For 23 years, beginning in 1981, at John Brown University Renfrow held a variety of jobs. For seven years he was Head Coach for JBU’s Cross Country and Track teams while at the same time teaching in the physical education department. In 2003 and 2004 Renfrow served as JBU’s Sports Information Director before retiring in 2004. In addition to the time spent coaching and teaching, he also has been involved in backpacking and taught a camping and backpacking class at JBU, leading groups on trips in Colorado, New Mexico and Arkansas. In 1983, he began taking flying lessons and after earning his pilot's license has been part owner in 10 different airplanes and has enjoyed flying various places across the country. During his career at JBU, Renfrow became interested in missions projects and has served in six short-term missions in Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela. In the last 5 years, he has become interested in and has completed one layout for model railroading. At the present he is working on expanding that layout to approximately 3 times the original size. Renfrow and his wife of 41 years, Jane, have traveled in Europe on several occasions, most recently a 3-week trip to Scotland in the fall of 2004. They have two married daughters, Mindy and Lori. Mindy and Michael have two children, Jordan and Joshua. Lori and Stephen have two children, Olivia and Ella.
Barry Snyder:
(D) LR Central. Led LR Central to 1965 state track championship and was high point individual with 15 ½ points. Set the overall and Meet of Champs record in the 120 high hurdles in 13.9 and low hurdles in 18.8. Won eight state and six Meet of Champs races from 1963-65, with ten of these being state records. In 1965 Snyder set a national record running 180 low hurdles around a curve in 18.8. He tied the national record with 13.7 in the 120 high hurdles. Snyder also ran on the state record 440 and mile relay teams in 1964-65. He was invited to run in the prestigious Golden West Invitational at Sacramento, CA. in 1965, winning the high hurdle race in that meet. He was the first Arkansas high school hurdler to run high hurdles in less than 14.0 sec. flat and low hurdles in less than 19.0 sec. flat. He received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Alabama. After being injured in his first track season, Snyder spent the remainder of his time at Alabama playing baseball as a catcher and right fielder. He was recruited by four major league baseball teams after graduation but chose to attend Alabama instead so he could participate in both his favorite sports as well as get a degree.
Charles Tadlock:
Coach at Charleston HS and Sheridan HS; Meet Official – Participated in track at Hendrix College as a thrower, occasional runner and often student assistant to Coach Bill Montgomery. In football was named All-AIC and Honorable Mention Little All-American. He coached Football, Track and Cross Country for 15 years at Charleston, beginning in the fall of 1961. His teams won a jr. high state cross country championship in 1962 and state sr. high cross country championships in 1965, 1967 and 1968, with the best overall meet time in 1967 being run by a Charleston athlete. His teams won four jr. high and three sr. high district championships. He coached track and cross country five years at Sheridan. As a track coach his teams never won a state championship but they produced state individual champions, at the jr. high or sr. high level, in every track and field event except the mile run. As a track official he has served continuously as the Referee for the Arkansas Activities Association’s State Cross Country Meet since 1986 and as a State Track Meet Referee continuously since 1992. He has been a Starter for local meets for 24 years and has been requested to serve as Referee for numerous invitational and conference track meets over the years. Has served as the presenter for AAA Track and Field / Cross Country rules meetings for the AAA, co-taught the Referee’s School at AAA Track & Field Administrative Clinics and is a certified instructor for the NFHS Coaches Education Program in which he teaches Coaching Principles and Sport First Aid to certified teachers, spirit coaches and those becoming credentialed to be Registered Volunteers in interscholastic sports programs.
Roy “Doc” Walker:
(D) Texarkana High School coach for 14 years and a total of 35 years in the Texarkana School District. His athletic career began at the all-black Washington High School in Texarkana, where he played offensive end and defensive back. Washington won a state championship in his senior year, 1948. At Arkansas AM&N (now UA, Pine Bluff), he played both football and baseball for three years before entering the Army for two years. He returned to AM&N after service, worked for a year as athletic trainer and assistant baseball coach, and got his degree in 1954. He coached part of one summer in Holly Grove and then returned to Texarkana, where he coached football under Nathan Jones at Washington from 1956 until 1969, when the school was combined with Arkansas High. Walker coached in the Texarkana area for 35 years, 14 years at Booker T. Washington and 21 years at Texarkana High School. He became an assistant football coach under Lynn Nix. He was the head coach of the AHS baseball team during the first five years of that program’s existence, winning the district championship and a state runner-up trophy the first year. Although, as an athlete he played football, basketball and baseball, he never ran track on the high school or collegiate level. However, he was best known for developing some of the best track and field talent in the state. He was the head track coach for 14 years, winning three state championships in 1978, 1979 and 1980. His 1981 team finished as the state runner-up. Walker’s goal as a coach was to prepare his teams for life after athletics, stressing his famous Three D’s – Discipline, Dedication and Desire. In 1991 Texarkana renamed its Hog Relays the Roy “Doc” Walker Relays. Walker was the first recipient of the “Honors Boulevard” in the Hobo Jungle Park in Texarkana in 2000 when it was named “Doc” Walker Boulevard 2000.
Bige Wray:
Harrison High School and University of Arkansas. During his career, Wray broke both the overall state high school record and the Arkansas Collegiate record in the 880 yard run. Wray won the District, AA State Meet, and Meet of Champions 880 yard run all three years from 1962-64. In 1962, he became the first Arkansas high school athlete to break 2:00 in a state meet, running 1:59.7. Wray's best high school performance was winning the 1964 Meet of Champions with an overall state record of 1:54.1. At the University of Arkansas, he won the Freshman Division in the Southwest Conference 880 in 1965 and was the Southwest Conference 880 Champion in 1967. Wray was also Southwest Conference runner-up in the 880 in both 1966, setting the Arkansas Collegiate record of 1:49.3, and in 1968. He was a member of the Razorbacks 1966 Southwest Conference cross country championship team. Wray ran undefeated through out his high school career, and his freshman year at the U of A. He was a gold medal winner in the mile relay, running anchor in the Texas Relays in 1965. He was a silver medallist in the two-mile relay at the Texas Relays in 1965 and anchored the sprint medley relays at the Drake Relays in 1965 that won gold. They came in 2nd in the mile that year. In 1967, he anchored the 2-mile relay at the Kansas relays that placed 2nd. Wray was inducted into the inaugural class of the Harrison Goblin Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
2004 Inductees
Brian Baker
Batesville High School and University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. A Batesville native, he formerly held the state’s high school AAAA and overall record in the 1600 meter run, 4:11.5, set in 1989 and the overall 3200 meter run record, 9:09, also set in 1989. At UA, Baker was a 7-time All‑American and the 1994 NCAA Outdoor 5000 meter champion. He recorded a 5000 meter collegiate career best of 13:42.92. Baker was the SEC cross country champion in 1990 and 1991 and the 1991 outdoor 5000 meter champion.
Ray Dyck
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. At Moundridge H.S., Kansas, Dyck anchored the 880 and mile relay teams to state championships. At UA lettered four years, setting school 880 record of 1:54.9 as a freshman. Set SWC 880 record of 1:52.8. Was on three UA cross‑country championship teams, personally finishing 1st, 4th and 2nd. Set new meet and university records at Fort Worth relays with 1:52. Anchored sprint medley relay team at Texas Relays at 1:50.5 and was named Outstanding Athlete at Shreveport Relays in 1959. Dyck was on four record-setting relay teams at UAF in the mile, sprint medley, two-mile and four-mile. From 1984 to 2002 ran in 18 consecutive 10K races and five marathons.
Sammy Epps
Southern Arkansas University. All-AIC and NAIA All-American in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985. Led SAU to AIC track & field championships as high point in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Four 1st places in 1983 and 1984. Holds SAU school records for 100-meter Dash (10.34), 200-meter Dash (20.84), 400-meter Dash (45.98), Long Jump (25’5½”) and member of the 400-meter relay team (3:08.20). Holds AIC record in long jump (24’11¼”).
Bruce Fullerton
Little Rock Central and University of Arkansas. At UA on freshman relay team that set UA 440-yard relay record at 42.2 sec. at Texas Relays in 1959. A track & football standout at Little Rock Central; a member of 3 state HS championship track teams 1956, 1957 and 1958, ran the 100‑yd, 220-yd, and 440-yd dashes and was a member of the state record holding 440-, 880- and Mile Relay teams. In 1957 he was the first Arkansas HS athlete to break 50 sec. in the 440 when he set the state HS record in the 440- in his junior year at 49.1. His best HS time in the 100-yard Dash was 9.9. At Pulaski Heights Jr. High earned Track letters in 1953-1955; participated in the Discus, Shot Put, Broad Jump, 50- yard, 100-yard, and 220-yard Dashs, 440- yard Run and the 440-,880-, and Mile Relays. His Jr. High team won the state championship in 1955 and he set state records in the 220-yard Dash (23.2) and 440-yard Run (51.8) and tied records in the 50- (5.8) and the 100-yard Dash (10.6).
Karl Koonce
Genoa Central HS, Henderson State University, Lake Hamilton High School coach. High school state champion in the mile and 880 and has held the Class A mile record since 1969. Koonce set HSU records in the mile, 880 and 3-miles in 1973 and still holds the mile and 880 records of 4:08.00 and 1:51.6. He won the AIC championship in the mile run and was NAIA finalist in the mile in 1973. Named “Duke Wells Inspirational Athlete” in 1973. President of Arkansas Track Coaches Association in 1984-85 and 1997-2001. Conference Coach of the Year 5 times. Has coached five cross country state team winners and 18 state runners-up. Coached 12 conference championship track teams and 13 runners-up. Coaching at Lake Hamilton H.S., Koonce has had 53 All State boys and 25 All State girls in track & field since 1985 and 26 All State boys and 31 All State girls in cross country. Coached 1 All American pole vaulter in 1988. Coached two state runners-up teams in outdoor track and one state champion team in indoor track and has had one of the top teams in the state for most of his tenure at Lake Hamilton. Active in all ATCA projects including indoor track season, All Star Cross Country Meet, winter clinic, summer clinic and All Arkansas Track team. Instrumental in starting the Arkansas-Oklahoma All Star Cross Country meet.
Sammy May
Arkansas Tech University. An all-sports performer at Atkins High School 1948-51 and 3-sport star at ATU in FB, BB and Track, 1952-55. In the 1951 HS conference meet Atkins won the meet with 90 points of which May scored 31, winning five 1st places, three of them new records, and also ran on three winning relay teams. The next team scored only 33 pints. In the 1951 state HS meet Atkins won with 52½ points, of which May scored 23¾ points, the next team just 24. May won the high hurdles, pole vault and high jump, was 2nd in the broad jump and ran on three 1st place relay teams. In the 1954 AIC meet May led ATU to a 2nd place finish with 16¾ of their 40 points as the top individual scorer. He won the 100-yard Dash (10.0), the broad jump (22-2½), had a 1st place tie in pole vault (12-3) and ran on the winning 880-yard Relay, 2nd place 440-yard Relay and finished 3rd in the 220-yard Dash.
J.P. Moore
Benton High School and Vanderbilt University. Was the dominant performer of his era in Arkansas high school track and later a football and baseball standout at Vanderbilt University. In the 1940 state meet, he set a record of 9.9 in the 100-yard dash, breaking a record that had lasted since 1916 and setting a record that would last until 1962, won the 220 yard dash in 22.2, second best ever, won the discus with a record throw of 137-10 and was third in the shot put. During the 1940 season he twice he ran 9.8 in the 100 yard dash. As a junior he set a state record of 25.1 in the 220-yard low hurdles. Moore played football at Vanderbilt University and was named to the All-Southeastern Conference sophomore team in 1941. He held the school punting record for 10 years, was fourth in the nation in 1942 with a 40.9 average, and was the SEC kickoff return leader in 1946. Vanderbilt did not have a track program.
2003 Inductees
Paul White
1973 - Class AAA State Champion Shot Put - 61’ 5 ½” (state class record), 1974 - Class AAA State Champion Shot Put - 65’ 6 ½” (state class record), Meet of Champions Shot Put winner - 65’ 10 ¾” (overall state record), National High School Shot Put Champion - 69’ 8 ½”, High School All-American, 1977 - NAIA Outdoor Shot Put Champion, 1979 - NAIA Indoor Shot Put Champion, NAIA Outdoor Shot Put Champion, 6 Time NAIA Track and Field All-American.
Deena Drossin-Kastor
An eight-time all-american in cross country and track, Drossin’s arrival at Arkansas coincided with the Lady Razorbacks’ rise to No. 1 in the cross country polls and three NCAA runner-up finishes. She was the 1992 NCAA cross country national runner-up. At the 1996 Outdoor Championships, Drossin was the 3,000 runner-up to teammate Megan Flowers and third in the 5,000. Drossin earned her eighth all-america honor with a fifth-place run in the 10,000. Her SEC titles include the 1991 and 1992 cross country championships, the 1993, 1994, and 1996 indoor 5,000 and the 1993 outdoor 3,000 and 5,000. She was the SEC Female Athlete of the Year for cross country in 1992 and 1993.
Long time and current coach of boys and girls track and field and cross country at Russellville High School. Outdoor teams have won ten conference championships. Teams have won ten state championships and twelve times runners-up in cross country, indoor and outdoor track. Selected Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1976 by National High School Coaches Association. Selected State Coach of the Year in 2001-2002 for Cross Country and Track by the National Federation Athletic Coaches Association. Arkansas High School Coaches Association Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1997 & 2001. Arkansas High School Coaches Association Track Coach of the Year in 2002. Chaired and served on the AAA Track and Field Advisory Committee for several years. Selected as Arkansas’ Head Coach Men’s Team for the Arkansas-Oklahoma All-Star Meet in 1994. Meet Coordinator for NAIA National Outdoor Championships in 1986 and 1987. Inducted in National High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998. Boys Teams won the AAAAA Triple Crown by winning State Championships in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track in 2001-2002.
Stanley Redwine
Before becoming a coach at Arkansas, Redwine has placed his name in the Razorback history books as a 400m, 600y and 800m runner from 1980-83. Redwine was a four-time All-American and was named UA’s Outstanding Track Athlete all four of his years in Fayetteville. During his freshman season, he captured the Southwest Conference Championship in the indoor 600-yard run (1:10.52) and was a member of the outdoor conference champion 1,600m relay team. The next year, Redwine once again became the 600-yard run champion, improving his time to 1:09.97. As a senior, he was a three-time conference champion in the 800m run (1:50.15), 880-yard run (1:50.96) and the mile relay (3:14.69). Redwine still ranks among the Razorbacks’ top 10 in six events, which includes anchoring the school’s record-setting sprint medley relay team (3:15.10) at the Penn Relays in 1983, which now ranks as the second-best time in history. Redwine owns the fourth-best time in school history in 800m at 1:46.13. In addition, he also ranks fourth in the outdoor 400m dash and was a participant in several top-10 relay performances for the Razorbacks. He still holds fourth, seventh and eighth-best times in the outdoor 1600m relay record book and the second, sixth and ninth best times in the outdoor DMR. For his achievements, Redwine was inducted into the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor.
George Henry
During a coaching career spanning 43 years, George Henry coached over 5,000 athletes, with 115 earning collegiate athletic scholarships. His track and field teams won two State Championships, two AIC Track and Field titles and one AIC Cross Country title. Henry twice honored as NAIA District 17 and NAIA Area V “Track Coach of the Year”. In 1977 George Henry was honored as the first Arkansan to be inducted into the NAIA National Track and Field Hall of Fame. Coach Henry was also inducted into the University of the Ozarks Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.
Reuben Reina
Awards: ‘92 USA Olympic Team - Barcelona Games 5000m; Eight-Time All-American in Track & Cross Country; Seven Time SWC (Southwest Conference) Champion; Two-Time NCAA National 3000m Indoor Champion - ‘90, ‘91; ‘91 USA World Championships Team - Tokyo 5000m; ‘92 Indoor Grand Prix Champion 3000m; ‘93 Olympic Festival Champion 5000m; ‘94 Indoor Grand Prix Champion 3000m; Four-Time Millrose Games 3000m Champ - ‘91, ‘92, ‘94, ‘95; ‘94 USA National Cross Country Champion; ‘95 USA National Cross Country Runner-up; ‘96 USA National Cross Country Champion; Arkansas Road 5K Record Holder 13:26 - July 5, 1992; Arkansas Road 10K Record Holder 28:57 - October 1990.
Personal Bests: 800m - 1:52.1 - High School - April 1985; 1500m - 3:40.81 - Belfast, N. Ireland - July 16, 1990; 1 Mile - 3:57.08 - Fayetteville, Arkansas - January 25, 1991; 3000m - 7:43.02 - Nice, France - July 15, 1991; 5000m - 13:24.78 - Oslo, Norway - July 6, 1991; 10,000m - 28:31 - Mt. SAC Relays - April 1997.
Harry Y. Denson
Coach Denson coached at Crossett from 1952 to 1963 and built their first track. His last 7 years at Crossett saw no less than a second place finish in the State Meet and Crossett earned its first State Championship in 1958. At UAM, from 1966 to 1988, he coached 16 All-Americans, UAM’s only two individual National Champions, and 3 athletes who competed in the Olympic Trials. Coach Denson oversaw the enlarging of the UAM track from 7 to 8 lanes and the adding of an all-weather surface which allowed UAM to host the AIC Championship Meet during his last year with the school. That meet halted UAM’s 14 year home track meet winning streak. In 1980 Coach Denson was listed as one of Arkansas’ outstanding track coaches in George S. Jones’ book “History of the First Seventy-Five Years of High School Track and Field in Arkansas.” Coached 11 years at Crossett, 1 year at West Memphis, and 23 years at UAM. He was a WWII veteran and a Deacon at 1st Baptist Church in Monticello and passed away in 1993 at the age of 66. While at UAM he coached Damon Martin who now coaches men’s and women’s track and cross country at Adam’s State College in Alamosa, Colorado and is a 12-time National Coach of the Year. Coach Denson was an all-around athlete in high school and college. He was Warren’s outstanding athlete in 1945 and started at center for LRJC’s 1949 National Champion Football Team.
2002 Inductees
Ralph Brodie
Outstanding performer at Pulaski Heights Jr. High in Little Rock. At Little Rock Central High School he was a member of three State Champions, 1956-57 and 58. Was High Point in the First Meet of Champions in 1958. Ran on state record setting 440, 880, and mile relay teams. 1st Arkansas high school athlete to run under 15.0 in 120 High Hurdles . Set State Record in 120 High Hurdles of 14.8 and 180 Yard Low Hurdles of 19.6. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 1959 to 1963. In SWC meet in 1963 he ran the 120 High Hurdles in 14.1. Named to Track and Field News 25 top Hurdlers in 1961 and 1963.
Jim Brown:
Hot Springs HS, 1st place in 880 run in 1947 State Meet. At UAF he set records in 2 mile run, 4 mile run and ran on 2 mile, & distance medley relays . Won SWC Cross Country individual championship. Set SWC record in 2 mile run. Ran in the 1952 Olympic Trials, qualifying in the 5000M and 3000M Steeplechase. He finished 5th in Steeplechase. Finished 1st in the two mile run in an all service meet in 1963. Won the mile and two mile at the South Atlantic AAU Meet.
Vernon Hutchins:
Football and track coach at Stamps HS in 1964. His teams won four state Class B track championships and one runner-up in five years. He was named the AHSCA Outstanding Track Coach in 1966 and 1968. At Camden he won two AAA state track championships in 1973 and 1974. He was the AHSCA Outstanding Track Coach in 1973 and 1974. His 1992 team at Fouke was the Class A state runner-up.
Mike Hoffman:
Outstanding performer at Pulaski Heights Jr. High. At Little Rock Central High School he ran 100 and 220 and 440, 880 and Mile relays. Lost only two times in the 100 yard dash in three years. He was high point in Tiger and Warrior Relays as well and state meets and Meet of Champs for three years. Best 100 yard dash time of 9.7. At Baylor University he ran 9.5 in the 100 yard dash. Outstanding Baylor Track Athlete in 1967.
Frank O’Mara:
University of Arkansas. He won the NCAA 1500 M in 1983. Three time All American. Two times world 3000M champion in 1989 and 1991. Three times an Olympian in 1984, 1988, and 1991. Ran on World Record 4 mile Relay team. Personal Best of 3:51.06 in the mile, 1:46.08 in the 800 meters, 5000M in 13:13.02, 7:39.99 in the 3000M and the 10,000M in 17:58.99.
Raymond “Rip” Powell:
Coached at Texarkana where he won two state track championships. Football and track coach at Stamps before returning to SAU as head track coach in 1963. After three season of a 3rd place and two 2nd place finishes in the AIC his 1967 team won their first AIC championship and then repeated in 1968. SAU had 25 All-AIC track athletes and 13 NAIA All-American during this time and set 5 AIC Records. The “Rip Powell Relays” are an annual event at SAU. In 1999 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from SAU.
Glenn Rice:
Dumas HS and College of the Ozark. Outstanding in all sports in high school as well as at C of O. He won the Broad Jump as well as the 100 and 220 yard dashes in most high school meet at Dumas. He set the NCAA javelin record at a meet in Chicago in 1928, the first record ever for an Arkansas athlete. He set state records in the javelin and broad jump. His broad jump record of 24’, 1 5/8”stood for 47 years, 1929 until 1976.He went to the Olympic trials at Harvard in 1929 but did not qualify. In 1932 he went to the Southern Olympic Trials in Memphis. Here he finished 1st in the Javelin and Broad Jump. Lack of money kept him from the Olympic games. He was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1969 and the University of the Ozarks Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Randy Taylor:
Competed for Little Rock Central and UA, Fayetteville. He has continued to compete in road races and masters track and field meets. At Central he was the State Cross Country champion in 1964 and in 1965 the state mile and Meet of Champs winner. He broke the overall mile record three times with a best of 4:21. In 1966 he was a member of the Razorback SWC Cross Country championship team. He was the bronze medallist at UST&F Federation National Indoor Championships in the university 1,000 yard run. He has finished Six Boston Marathons. USATF-Arkansas Grand Prix overall state road racing champion in 1986. He won the 1994 Masters Pan-American 800M and 1500M
runs in Edmonton, Canada, and has won seven Master/Senior age group national championships with Masters best of2:00.2 at 800M and 4:00.9 at 1500M.
2001 Inductees
Dick Booth
A native of Ottawa, Kansas, Booth was a standout quarter mile at Ottawa University. He began his coaching career at Willington High School in Kansas, moved to Fort Scott, Kansas and Shawnee Mission, Kansas. He gained a reputation as one of the premier prep field event coaches in the country. He came to Arkansas in 1977 to take over the field events. Booth has coached 42 national champions, 115 All-Americans and 10 Olympians. Some of the national champions he has coached are Mike Conley, Erick Floreal, Brian Wellman, Jerome Roamain, Roy Doakes, Matt Hemingway, Melvin Lister, Kenny Evans and Lavar Miller. Dick Bopothe was selected to be the jumping coach for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
John Feltner
John was an outstanding performer for Russellville High School. He set overall record in the 880 yard run with a time of 1:52.3 in 1970 (converts to a 1:51.6 800 meters) which makes his time the best ever 880 yd. / 800 meter time in Arkansas. John was the Arkansas Mee of Champions winner of the 880 yd run for the years of 1968, 1969, and 1970. He was member of the champion mile relay with a time of 3:20.0. John was a member of the Kansas State team when they won the Big 8 Championship held in Linoln, Nebraska in 1971.
Wanda Harris
An Arkadelphia native, Wanda was an outstanding track athlete for Arkadelphia High School and the University of Arkansas. She was on of the pioneers of girls's track and field as a sprinter, hurdler, long jumper, and high jumper. She has been honored as the Siftings Herald female of the year, featured in 1977's Sports Illustrated, Track and Field accomplishment, Arkansas Outstanding Track and Field Athlete in 1977, High School All-American with honors, Who's Who Among High School Athletes, Who's Who Among College Athletes and Collegiate All-American Honors, participated in AAU Natinoal Junior Olympics Nationals and received medals in three events. She once held the overall record in the long jump with a mark of 19'-8 3/4;; it is still the Class AAAA state record for Arkansas.
Henry Hawk
Henry Hawk of Conway, started for Conway High and ASTC/UCA in the fifties. His versatility allowed him to perform in the sprints, relays, and field events. After graduation, he coached at North Little Rock Ole Main where he developed several outstanding track athletes and teams. His versatility has continued into his U.S. A. Masters Track and Field lperformances where he has won 19 awards and national championships in the 800, 1500, 3200, and 500 meters. Henry set a world record in the indoor mile for the 60-64 age division in 1998 with a time of 5:13.38. He is the past president of the Senior Olympics and serves on the Governor's Council on Fitness.
Doyle Hunnicutt
Born in Gravely, Arkansas, March 3, 1913, Doyne won the National High School Track Meet in the broad jump at Chicago over a field of 62 entries. His jump, 23 feet 8 1/4 inches, was the third best world's high school distance, with Jesse Owens holding first place and Lonoke's Eddie Hamm second. Doyne never lost an event while in high school. He was highly recruited by Southern California, Georgia Tech, the University of Arkansas, and several other state school. He attended Georgia Tech and the University of Arkansas, but did not compete because of an injury received in the National High School Meet that didn't respond to the healing process. He attended Hendrix College in 1936-38 and competed. His best jump was 25 feet 8 1/2 inches. He competed for 10 years and lost only five times. Doyne qualified for the 1936 Olympic finals. He never made it to Munic, Germany because there were no sponsorship programs then, and his family's budget did not support a trip of that magnitude.
John Thompson
A 1924 graduate of Hendrix College, John was state high point man for four years in Arkansas state meets. He finished seventh in the U.S. Olympic decathlon in 1924 evebn though he fell in the hurdles; otherwise he would have finished second. He held six college records. As coach at Fort Smith, his team broke Little Rock school's record of 97 straight track victories when the Fort Smith Grizzlies won the 1946 conference meet. John is a member of teh Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
Win Whipple
Winfield Whipple was born in Crowley, Louisiana September 10, 1915, As a 13-yearl old, he jumped 20 feet 9 inches; at the age of 14 he jumped 22 feet. Win is considered as on of the finest high school athletes Arkansas ever produced. In his eleventh grade year at a district meet in Camden he won the 100 and 220 yard dashes, the broad jump and ran on two winning relays. He was high point man of the meet with 17 1/2 points. His high school broad jump record of 23 feet 3 1/4 inches set in 1932 stood for 51 years only to be broken in 1983. the Arkansas Gazett sports section has a picture of Win jumping at 23' 10 inches in May 1933. Win set a record of 24 feet 6 5/8 inches May 25-26, 1934 in the Annual Track and Field Union held at LSU. Had he not died when he did, he might have attended the Olympics in Germany in 1936. Winfield Whipple will be remembered as Win"Skinny" Whipple.
2000 Inductees
Jim Crawford
Crawford ran track for Harding University. He was the first Arkansas runner to break the 4-minute mile with a time of 3:59.6 in 1970. His all-time best was 3:56.9. He had the best indoor mile time in the world in 1972 with a 3:58.0. In 1993 he finished in the U.S. Masters and Great Britain Masters top three in the 5000 and 10,000 meter runs. He was in the finals in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Trials in the 1500.
U.S. Grant
Grant, who is still an active coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, participated in track and field at the high school and college levels. His coaching career started at Daniel High School in Crossett where he won district championships in 1952, 1954, 1955, and 1957 and a state ASAA championship in 1957. He later coached at Pine Bluff Southeast, winning nine conference championships and the state ASAA championship in 1961. Grant began his college coaching career in the early 1960s at his alma mater, UAPB. He won the SWAC championship in 1970, the AIC (men) championship in 1971 and AIC women's championship in 1985 and 1986. His teams produced NAIA District Championships in 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994. His 1989 women's team was NAIA National Outdoor runner-up. He collected close to a dozen Coach of the Year awards during his career.
Gerald Masterson
Masterson ran track for Ouachita Baptist University. He was national ranked among the top 10 in the world in the 800 meters. His best time was 1:45.76. In the NAIA he was indoor and outdoor All-America for three years. In one indoor meet he won the 600 and 800 meter runs, setting records in both events on the same night. He was MVP for the national meet in 1975. After college he ran for the Santa Monica track club and ran on the world record 4 x 800 meter relay. He qualified for the Olympic Trials twice. He held the AIC record for the 800 and 1500. Masterson was inducted into the 1984 NAIA Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Lewis McCollum
McCollum was the head track coach at Russellville High School from 1967-1973, and his teams won state track championships in 1970 and 1971. He also won a junior high state track championship in 1967. He was the Arkansas High School Coaches Association Track Coach of the Year in 1970. His Russellville teams won conference championships in 1969, 1970, and 1974, and his Cross Country teams finished as state runners-up in 1968, 1969, and 1970. McCollum has served on the Arkansas Activities Association Track and Field Advisory Committee for 25 years, and chairman of that committee for 13 years. He has been a meet referee for 18 state track and field meets and for seven Meet of Champions. McCollum is one of seven members of the Russellville High School Coaches Hall of Fame.
Thomas Oakley
Oakley attended Little Rock (Central) High School as a sophomore and junior, but did not compete in track because high schools in Arkansas did not allow competition in the mile or cross country. He attended Kemper Military School in Booneville, Missouri as a senior. He ran track for the University of Arkansas from 1955-1959. At Arkansas, Oakley was member of three Southwest Conference Cross Country championship teams in 1956, 1957, and 1958 when he was team captain. He won the SWC two-mile run in 1958. He placed third in the event in 1957 and second in 1959. In 1960 he won the Arkansas Relays open two-mile. As of June 3, 1960, he was the fourth fastest American of all time in the Steeplechase. He bettered the Olympic qualifying standard while placing fourth in the Olympic Team Trials in 1960, and was a team alternate. He won first place at the Kansas Relays Open Steeplechase in 1960 and 1962 and won the Pacific AAU Steplechase three times in 1961, 1962, and 1963.
James Rector
Rector, who was born in Hot Springs in 1884, was the first Arkansas athlete to compete in the Olympic Games.
He won the silver medal in the 100 meter dash at the 1908 Games in London. Rector tied the world record in the 100 yard dash and ran the 220 yard dash in 21.4 seconds. He also tied the world record for the 50 yard dash (indoors) with a 5.2, and held the indoor world record in the 100 yard dash with a 10.0. He never lost a race on U.S. soil. He was the grandson of Arkansas Civil War governor Henry Massey Rector and Mississippi Reconstruction governor James Alcorn. he was a prominent St. Louis lawyer for mor than 30 years before retiring and moving back to Hot Springs. He died in 1950.
1999 Inductees
J.M. "Johnnie" Burnett
This former coach was instrumental in building a sound state high school activities program. He served as Executive Director of the Arkansas Activities Association from 1946-1974. Burnett was a member of the first National Federation Track and Field Rules Committee. He was elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1977, and the Arkansas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995.
Andrew Butler
As coach of the Pine Bluff Zebras, Butler lead his teams to 10 state track and field championships. The 1980's belonged to Butler and his Zebras. They captured 8 of 10 state titles from 1981 and 1990, including four in a row from 1985 to 1988.
Gerald Cound
This Grannis native represented UCA well on the track. In 1962, he won the NAIA 880-yard run with a time of 1:51.3. Only one week later he ran the fastest time recorded by an Arkansas in the 880-yard running it in 1:50.3. He was the first national track champion from UCA, and was an NAIA All-American
Joe Falcon
While at the University of Arkansas, Falcon won 7 NCAA titles. He was on the first Cross Country championship team from UA. Falcon won NCAA titles in numberous events ranging from the 1500 to the 10,000 meter runs.
Ivan Grove
Born in Denver, CO, Grove came to Arkansas to coach. He began his career at the University of Arkansas, but joined the staff at Hendrix College in 1924 where he remained until his retierment. Coach Grove was an all-0conference college athlete in football, basketball, baseball and track and brought this love of athletics to his coaching. He was among the first inbductees to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1959
Jerry Hall
Hall served as the Associate Director of the Arkansas Activcities Association from 1970 to 1996. He served twice on the national Federation Rules Committee, from 1974 to 1978 and again from 1986 to 1990. Hall was among the first inductees to the Arkansas High School Coaches Association-Arkansas Officials Association Fall of Fame in 1995.
Wadie Moore
This Little Rock native has served Arkansas athletics through the media for nearly four decades. Moore covered high school sports for the Arkansas Gazette for 25 years. He then moved on to become sports editor of the Pine Bluff Commercial. He is currently Director of Public and Media Relations for the Arkansas Activities Association.
Past Inductees
1998 Inductees
Raymond Bright
Coach Bright and his teams won many championships for Conway from 1952-64. While at Conway High School, his teams won four 5A Championships, three 3A Championships, and two State Championships. He continued his success at his alma mater, the University of Central Arkansas, with five AIC Championships. His 1962 team placed seventh in the NAIA national track & field meet, and included Gerald Cound, the first Arkansas runner to win an event in the national meet.
Clyde Hart
Clyde Hart began setting records as a student athlete at Hot Springs High School and then at Baylor University. this athletic success was the foundation for his coaching career. At tthe high school, college and Olympic levels, he has won numberous championships and coached numerous champions. Hart has been named the National Track Coach of teh Year three times, and coached seven national collegiate champions and eight world record performances. He has coached Olympic and world record holder Michael Johnson for the past 10 years.
Mike Conley
this Olympian and U of A athlete has had an outstanding career as a triple jumper and lon jumper. His achievements include: #1 ranking in the wolrd six times; USA National Champion 12 times; won All-American honors 17 times; NCAA Chammpion ione times; two World Indoor Chammpionships; and one World Outdoor Championship. He won the silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games, and captured the gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games. Conley has been named the Woorld's Greatest Combination Jumper of All Time.
this Hamburg native was an integral part of track and field in Arkansas. Sawyer served as coach at Henderson State University from 1954 to 1989. During this time, he held many positions with committees and conferences at both the high school and college levels. He was named the NAIA District 17 Trach Coach of the Year in 1977, and was inducted into the NAIA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1982.
1997 Inductees
Clyde Horton
Clyde Horton graduated from Central High School in Little Rock, only to return there ten years later to further his coaching career. He became head track coach in 1963. During his 24 year tenure, his teams won the State Championship 8 times and the State Cross Country Championship 14 times. Horton was named High School Track Coach of the Year 4 times, District V Track Coach of the Year twice, and District V Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1979. He has served as a staff coach at the U.S. Olympic Development Facility.
Al Joyner
At the 1984 Olympics, this Arkansas State University graduate became the first American in 80 years to win the Gold Medal in the Triple Jump. While at ASU, Al Joyner was a 3-time All-American, placed 8th in the World Championships in Helsinki, and was a 4-time Southland Conference Champion. Joyner received the Jim Thorpe Award in 1984 as the op field event performer in the United States. Joyner and his sister, Jackie, are the only brother-sister teammates in American history to medal in the same Olympic Games.
While a coach at Harding University, Ted Lloyd's teams have won a total of 39 AIC Track and Cross Country Championships, and 32 NAIA District 17 championships. He has coached 6 NAIA national champions and over 75 All-Americans. Lloyd has also served track and field as the first president of the Arkansas Track Coaches Association, president of the NAIA Track Coaches Asociation, and as a member of the USA Track and Field Board of Directors. He is a member of the National Faculty of the U.S. Sports Academy.
Earl Quigley
Earl Quigley was athletics as Little Rock Central High School. He served as coach of baseball, basketball, football and track, and as Athletic Director, with an overall coaching record of 760 wins, 190 loses and 11 teis. As head track coach, he led Central to 18 consecutive state track championships - the second longest winning streak in the nation - and an overall record of 98-2, 97 of those wins were consecutive. In 1957, Tiger Stadium was renamed Quigley Stadium to honor his contribution to high school athletics.
Carl Steward
This Bald Knob native and University of Central Arkansas graduate is the official on track in Arkansas. He was a starter or referee for the AIC and the Southwest Conference. He currently serves as a referee for the AAA, the University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University and the Southeastern Conference. Steward is the certification officer for Track and Field Official USA for Arkansas.
1996 Inductees
Bob Gravett
This Humnoke native coached track and field at Ouachita Baptist University for almost 30 years. During that time, he coached 71 NAIA All-Americans, one Olympian, and one NAIA Hall of Fameer. He was invited to coach at the 1979 World University Games and the 1986 Olympic Festival. He has also provided his support off the field as a lecturer in Mexico, as a past president of the Arkansas Track Coaches Association, the NAIA Track Coaches Association and the AIC Track Coaches Association, and currently as the president of teh Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame board. Bob Gravett is a member of teh NAIA Hall of Fame, was named AIC Coach of teh Year 3 times, NAIA District 17 Coach of the Year 5 times and Area Coach of teh Year 4 times. He holds the record, at 8, for teh most conference records by an AIC coach.
Eddie Hamm
Eddie Hamm began his record-setting career in Lonoke. As a high school athlete, he won the state broad jump competition for 3 consecutive years, setting a state record of 23'2" his sophomore year. He went on to set a national record with a jump of 24'2 5/8". He also won the 220 yard dash for 3 consecutive years, the 100 yard dash twice, and won the state high jump title his senior yuear. while at Georgia Tech, he won the conference 100 and 220 yard dashes 3 times, and cleared 25' in the broad jump 8 times during his final season. this Olympian set a world record for the broad jump of 25' 11 1/8" at the U.S. Olympic trials. He won a gold medal for the broad jump at the 1928 Olympic Games with a jump of 25' 4 3/4".
This Arkansas State University graduate was a true champion. He was a four-time Southland Conference 110 yard champion high hurdler. He was also the conference 100 meter dash champion in 1970. In addition he was the NCAA 60 yard high hurdle champion in 1969, and the Inter-service high hurdle champion for 4 years. At the 1971 U.S. Track & Field Federation games he tied the world record 13.2 seconds in the high hurdles after running a wind-aided time of 13.1 seconds in the semi-finals. thomas Hill won the Bronze medal in the 110 meter high hurdles at the 1972 Olympic Games.
While a coach at Atkins, Georg Jones' teams won 19 district titles and 6 state championships. He has worked as an official, a starter, a head field judge and a referee at meets across the state, including the Meet of Champs, the Decathlon and the Pentathlon. He has served on the National Track and Field rules Committee and as Chairman of the Games Committe for Arkansas high schools. This Pottsville native helped author the first track and field handbook, and is the author and publisher of The History of the First 75 Years of High School Track & Field in Arkansas. He developed the scoring tables in use today at the Decathlon and Pentathlon events. He has served as head field judge for the 7 national NAIA Chammpionships held in Arkansas. In 1995, he made his farm available and served as host of the State Highh School Cross Country Meet.
Jon McDonnell
As a student-athlete at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, he was a 6-time All-American. He was the AAU 3000 meter champion in 1966-67, and won the mile run at the 1966 British Selection Games. He made his mark on Arkansas as a coach. His Razorback track teams have won 4 National Triple Crowns, 12 Conference Triple Crowns, 25 Conference titles, 41 conferen e championships, 12 NCAA indoor titles, 8 national cross cojntry titles and 22 conference cross country championships. Every University of Arkansas indoor and outdoor track record is held by one of his recruits. No other coach in Division I men's collegiate athletics has won more national championships. John McDonnell has been named National Coach of the Year 16 times, Conference Coach of teh Year 22 times, and NCAA Division VI Coach of the Year 40 times.
1995 Inductees
Earl Bell
This 3-tim Olympian won a Bronze Medal in Pole Vaulting at the 1984 Olympic Games.
He was the world record holder in 1976, held the American record twice in his career and was an American champion in three different decades. The Jonesboro native and Arkansas State University graduate was a 5-time NCAA champion and the Pan American Games champion in 1975. Earl Bell's personal best is a pole vault in 19' 3".
Williams Carr
Bill Carr ran only three open 400 meter races in his life. He beat the world record holder and bettered the listed record each time. He won the gold medal in the 400 meters at the 1932 Olympic Games, and ran the anchor leg on the 1600 meter relay team that set a new world record..
The Pine Bluff native achieved all of this during his only full season of varsity competition while at the University of Pennsylvania.
Guy Kochel
During his 17-year tenure as Track Coach at Arkansas State University, Guy Kochel coached two world record holders, three Olympic Medalists and two American record hilders. He was an Assistant Coach for the U.S. Team in the 1984 Goodwill Games. He served as Vertical Jump Chairman for the U.S. Olympic Development committee from 1985-1988. In 1981, he authored the book "Practical Coaching Techniques for the Pole Vault".
Jerry McConnell
This sportswriter for the Arkansas Gazette used his position to bring Track & Field to the attention of Arkansans. Jerry McConnell started the listing of Best Track Performances in the paper, and promoted the development of the decathlon meet. He was a co-developer of the high school Meet of Champions, putting on the first event in 1958. His writing emphisized individual performances and records.
Bobby Richardson
Bobby Richardson was named Arkansas Track Coach of the Year 12 times. This 4-year track letterman from Arkansas State Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas) used his experience and knowledge to coach track at the high school level. As head track coach at Crossett High School, his teams won 18 state track championships and four state cross country championships. He received the Lowell Manning Award twice.
Clyde Scott
While most noted for his football career, Clyde Scott was a stellar track athlete. He was the state record holder in the 100 yard dash, 220 low hurdles, 110 high hurdles and the javelin while in high school at Smackover. At the University of Arkansas, he held school records in the 100 yard dash, 200 yard hurdles, javelin, 110 high hurdles and 440 relay, and was a world record holder in the 100 yard dash and 110 high hurdles. He won the NCAA Gold Medal in high hurdles in 1948. Clyde Scott won the Silver Medal in High Hurdles at the 1948 Olympic Games.
