Clifford John Prock

Clifford John Prock of Searcy, died at his home Tuesday, July 17, following a lengthy battle with a form of Lewy Body dementia. He was born March 13, 1929, in Hollis, Okla., to the late Lonnie and Lillie Mae Hooks Prock. He was 83. Prock is survived by his wife of 64 years, Charlene, of Searcy, Ark.; three children – Martina (and Ronnie) Peacock of Rogers, Ark.; Mona Daniel of Sulphur Springs, Texas; and Cam (and Robbin) Prock of Rogers, Ark. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. Prock was a football coach for 33 years, including 28 years at Harding University. He was honored as District 17 NAIA Coach of the Year in 1969, 1972 and 1976 and NAIA Area IV Coach of the Year in 1976. He was a charter member of the Harding University Athletic Hall of Fame and the Hollis (Oklahoma)/ Harmon County Sports Hall of Fame. He was named to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1991, the Southwestern State University Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. At the time of his retirement in 1987, Prock was the fifth most successful active coach in the NAIA and Dean of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference. He had coached 10 NAIA All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans and 63 All-AIC honorees. His most successful season as a coach was in 1972 when Harding's Bisons were Co-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference champions and winners of the Cowboy Bowl. The motto for his football teams was always, "Be the Best." He took the motto personally as well. He served as a Sergeant 1st Class with the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard during the Korean War, along with 65 others from Hollis, Okla., who were called to active duty in 1950. He was an accomplished woodcarver who appeared on two television shows and in several newspaper features. He and Charlene were long-time members of the Westside Church of Christ in Searcy, where he was a Sunday school teacher, deacon and elder. Visitation will be Thursday, July 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at West Side Church of Christ. The memorial service will be conducted Friday, July 20, at 2 p.m. at the West Side Church of Christ. Interment will be in White County Memorial Gardens. The family has requested that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org, 800-227-2345 or 1200 W. Walnut St., Ste. 2313, Rogers, Ark. 72756. Arrangements by Powell Funeral Home of Searcy. www.powellfuneralhome.net