Dr. Margaret Downing is a pioneer. She’s not a pioneer in the traditional sense of clearing land and homesteading an area. But she’s certainly a pioneer when it comes to advancing women’s sports in Arkansas.
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posted by rexnelson on January 26th, 2012“Light Horse” Harry Jones: Hall of Famer
posted by rexnelson on January 25th, 2012The opponent for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on that first Saturday of October 1965 was TCU. Harry Jones remembers carrying the ball for a good gain. And he remembers what the public address announcer said next: “There goes Light Horse Harry Jones.”
Read MoreU.S. Reed and The Shot
posted by rexnelson on January 23rd, 2012It has been more than three decades, but there’s not a week that goes by that someone doesn’t mention The Shot to former University of Arkansas basketball star U.S. Reed. If not The Shot, it’s The Call they remember.
Read MoreFormer Razorback Lee Mayberry: Hall of Famer
posted by rexnelson on January 20th, 2012Lee Mayberry and former University of Arkansas head basketball coach Nolan Richardson go back a ways. Way back, in fact. Mayberry, a Tulsa native, began attending Richardson’s basketball camps at the University of Tulsa when he was in junior high and Richardson was the Tulsa head coach.
Read MoreCoach Pat Jones: Hall of Famer
posted by rexnelson on January 19th, 2012Pat Jones was obsessed with sports when he was growing up in Little Rock. His heroes in football were University of Arkansas Razorback stars. When it came to baseball, he would argue with his friends about which one of them would wear Yogi Berra’s and Mickey Mantle’s numbers.
Read MoreOaklawn’s Terry Wallace: Hall of Famer
posted by rexnelson on January 18th, 2012The most recognizable voice in Arkansas? If you were to guess Terry Wallace of Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, you might have the correct answer. The 2012 race meet has begun, and Wallace’s voice is no longer heard.
Read MoreNashville: A peach of a town
posted by rexnelson on January 17th, 2012The people of Nashville have always had an intense pride, as exemplified by their support of the Nashville Scrappers high school football team. My older sister’s first job out of college was teaching at Nashville. She fell in love with the place. Driven forward through the years by business leaders such as Ramon Wilson, Nashville remains a peach of a town.
Read MoreThe Hamptons of the Delta
posted by rexnelson on January 12th, 2012It has been gratifying to hear from so many Lake Village natives about a newspaper column I wrote this week that was headlined “Hamptons of the Delta.” The column is about Lake Village. I like that nickname for this unique Arkansas town. I like it a lot.
Read MoreRazorbacks: 21 wins during two seasons
posted by rexnelson on January 11th, 2012The University of Arkansas Razorbacks won a combined 21 games during the past two football seasons. The last time that happened prior to 2010-11? The answer is 1964-65. Let’s be clear that Bobby Petrino does not quite have the Arkansas football program to the point where Frank Broyles had things in 1964-65. The winning percentage was better back then. Still, Petrino has Arkansas back in the national championship conversation.
Read MoreTide vs. the Tigers in NOLA
posted by rexnelson on January 9th, 2012For those of us who love Southern football and its history, it doesn’t get much better than tonight: Two of the region’s traditional powers meeting for all the marbles. And they’re doing it in New Orleans, not in some outpost outside the region.
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