Correction: Ken Stephens, the former head football coach at the University of Central Arkansas and Arkansas Tech University, will be inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 28, 2014, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. Stephens was misidentified in this story.
A look at the 11 people who make up the 2014 induction class for the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame: REGULAR CATEGORY DAVID BAZZEL Three-year starter and four-year letterman at linebacker at the University of Arkansas (1981-85). … Defensive captain for the 1985 team that didn’t allow a rushing touchdown in conference play. … Founder of Little Rock Touchdown Club.
DENNIS WINSTON Former Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker (1973-76) who went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints. … Won two Super Bowl titles with the Steelers.
GARY BLAIR Coached Arkansas’ women’s basketball from 1993 to 2003, compiling a 198-120 record while leading the team to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in 1998. … Left after 2003 season to take over as head coach at Texas A&M and led the Aggies to the 2011 national title.
BENNIE FULLER All-time leading scoring in Arkansas high school basketball history after scoring 4,896 points at Arkansas School for the Deaf (1968-71). … Scored 102 points against Leola in 1971. … Ranks fourth nationally on all-time high school scoring list.
STEPHANIE STRACK MATHIS The women’s basketball all-time scoring leader at Arkansas Tech with 2,298 points. … Three-time All-American who led the Golden Suns to two NAIA national championships.
KEN DUKE Former Henderson State golfer earned his first PGA title this season when he won the Travelers Championship on the second hole of a playoff. … Had two victories on the Web.Com Tour [formerly Nationwide Tour] and two victories on Canadian Tour. … Was the 2006 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year.
SENIOR CATEGORY DON CAMPBELL Longtime high school coach who had stints at Corning, Sheridan and Wynne. … Compiled an overall record of 257-98-6. … Won 2 state championships at Wynne.
ALVY EARLY Compiled more than 1,000 career victories as a women’s basketball and softball coach at Arkansas-Monticello. … Won or shared four AIC women’s basketball titles and made one appearance in the NAIA national championship game. KEN STEPHENS Served as football coach at Central Arkansas and Arkansas Tech.… Led Central Arkansas to four AIC titles and to the NAIA Champion Bowl in 1976. POSTHUMOUS CATEGORY JIM BARNES Tuckerman native was taken by the New York Knicks as the first selection in the 1964 NBA Draft. … Played seven seasons in the NBA with five different teams. … Averaged 8.8 points per game during his NBA career. … Named to the 1965 NBA All-Rookie team.
HARRY VINES Standout high school basketball player at what is now Little Rock Central. … Played for Abe Lemons at Oklahoma Christian (1957-61). … Maybe best known as the longtime coach of the Arkansas Rollin’ Razorbacks wheelchair basketball team. … Led Rollin’ Razorbacks to five National Wheelchair Basketball Association championships.
Sports, Pages 36 on 12/22/2013