Arkansas athletes and coaches from a variety of sports (and eras) filled the ballroom at the Statehouse Convention Center on Feb. 27 for the 57th annual Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
The program began with the introduction of previous inductees Nolan Richardson, Jerry Jones, Larry Lacewell, Keith Jackson and Bill Valentine, to name a few.
Hall of Fame President and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports editor Wally Hall said this year's event was record-setting with more than 1,000 in attendance and $200,000 raised. He said the success was due in part to Sheffield Nelson's help with the banquet, and that next year the hall will be presenting a scholarship in Nelson's honor.
There were four scholarships presented to high school students this year. They were given to Christopher Hayes, Dillon Groves, Morgan McCall and Hope Ernhart. Edina Begic, a volleyball standout at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, received the Star of Tomorrow Award.
The highlight and final event of the evening was the induction of the Class of 2015. New honorees and their sport are Dwight Adams, coaching; Pat Bradley, basketball; Ron Calcagni, football; Leon Clements, basketball; Jack Fleck, golf; Eldon Hawley, all around athlete/coaching; Carl Jackson, golf; Stephen Jones, football/administration; Stan Lee, golf; Mike Malham Jr., coaching; Christy Smith, basketball; and Bowden Wyatt, coaching.
-- Story and photos by Cary Jenkins
High Profile on 03/08/2015