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FIVE NAMED
TO UAM SPORTS HALL OF FAME
August 22, 2008
Contact: Jim Brewer, Media Services
MONTICELLO - One of the key members of a 1950’s football
powerhouse, a linebacker whose tackle records have lasted more
than three decades, a tight end who excelled on the field and in
the classroom, and two of the most decorated female athletes in
school history comprise the University of Arkansas at Monticello
Sports Hall of Fame’s class of 2008.
Alvin Ford, a two-time all-conference halfback, linebacker Roy
Strickland, tight end Byron Gasaway, basketball star Brenda
Jones, and Heidi Martin Cox, UAM’s first softball All-American,
will be inducted at a banquet October 16 in the John F. Gibson
University Center. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased by
contacting Jim Brewer at (870) 460-1074 or Bill Wisener at (870)
367-5334.
Reginald Glover, a 1955 UAM graduate and long-time supporter of
the school’s athletics program, was chosen to receive the UAM
Spirit Award, presented annually in recognition of recipient’s
support for the Boll Weevils and Cotton Blossoms.
Rex Nelson, director of the Delta Regional Authority and
long-time sportswriter for the Arkansas Democrat, will serve as
master of ceremonies.
Alvin Ford
.jpg) Ford
was a first team All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference
selection as a two-way halfback in 1956 and ’57 and is still the
only Boll Weevil to return four kicks for touchdowns in his
career. Ford returned two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns
and was a part of Convoy Leslie’s AIC dynasty that won four
straight league titles from 1955-58.
Leslie once called Ford “the best little man I ever saw on a
football field. He had tremendous quickness, he was shifty, and
he was tough,” Leslie said. “He was the best broken field runner
I ever coached.”
Despite his lack of size, Ford was highly recruited after an
outstanding high school career at Lake Village. He was recruited
by every AIC school plus Delta State, but opted to follow his
older brother, Jerry, to the University of Arkansas. When his
career as a Razorback didn’t pan out, Ford transferred to
Arkansas A&M and became a star in Leslie’s split-T offense as
well as a stellar defensive back. Ford rushed for 1,540 yards
and averaged nearly six yards a carry. He still owns two of the
five longest kickoff returns in school history with a 96-yard
return vs. Delta State and a 95-yarder against Ouachita.
Leslie, who died in 1999, still had vivid memories of Ford’s
return against Ouachita when visiting with a writer several
years ago. “It came up a thunderstorm at halftime and just
soaked the field,” Leslie remembered. “There was water standing
nearly ankle deep along the sidelines. Alvin took the second
half kickoff and broke loose down our side of the field. He was
plowing through that water and I was out there waving him on.
When he went by me, he soaked me from head to toe.”
Ford graduated from UAM in 1959 and currently lives in Lake
Village where he is retired from farming.
It’s been 35 years since Roy Strickland played his last game as
a Boll Weevil, yet he still holds school records for unassisted
tackles for a career (335) and season (133). Against Southern
Arkansas on November 17, 1973, Strickland made a whopping 35
tackles, 28 of them unassisted, both school records that still
stand.
Roy
Strickland
.jpg) Strickland
was a rare four-year starter and earned a slew of honors,
including second team NAIA All-American in 1973 and first team
All-AIC in 1972-73.
“Roy was a very aggressive, disciplined player,” said Joe
Fakouri, a former teammate. “He was very much a team player. Our
defense was structured around him and he had a knack for going
to the ball. He had the ability to shuck blockers and get to the
ball carrier. UAM was very fortunate to have gotten him. He
could have played at a higher level.”
Strickland graduated from UAM in 1976 and lives in Alexandria,
La., where he has a private chiropractic practice.
Byron Gasaway is one of three UAM athletes — and the only
football player — to earn All-America honors on the field and
Academic All-America honors in the classroom. The others were
basketball/baseball star Darrell Rhodes and basketball/track
standout Lisa McClure, both members of the Hall of Fame.
Byron
Gasaway
 Gasaway
was a glue-fingered tight end who earned honorable mention NAIA
All-America honors in 1982 and was a two-time first team All-AIC
selection in 1981-82. Gasaway was a first team NAIA Academic
All-American in ’82.
After more than two decades, Gasaway still ranks ninth on UAM’s
all-time career pass receiving charts (and second among tight
ends) with 103 receptions for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Gasaway played for two of the more successful UAM teams of
recent vintage – the 1979 AIC championship squad and the 7-2
team of 1981. Gasaway graduated in 1983 and currently farms in
Lincoln County.
Brenda Jones’ basketball career at UAM was nothing short of
spectacular. She made the All-AIC team in 1995, the All-Gulf
South Conference team in 1996 and ‘98, was the GSC most valuable
player in ’96, and was a first team NAIA All-American and a
third team Kodak All-American in ’95.
Brenda Jones
Heidi Martin Cox
  Jones
is the fifth leading scorer in school history with 1,737 points
and once scored 43 points against the Cotton Blossoms’ old
nemesis, Arkansas Tech. She also finished her career with 688
rebounds.
“Brenda was one of those rare athletes who come along once in a
great while who seem to make the game look easy,” said Alvy
Early, UAM athletic director and former women’s basketball
coach. “Brenda was one of the most complete players I ever
coached. She could take a game over by herself.”
Heidi Martin Cox is the first softball All-American in school
history, earning third team honors from the National Fastpitch
Coaches Association in 2002. She was first team All-GSC in
2001-02 and All-South Region in 2001.
One of the most feared hitters in the GSC, Cox owns the two
highest single season batting averages in school history — .457
in 2002 and .445 in 2001. Cox shares the single season record
for stolen bases with 17 and the career on-base percentage
record of .487.
“Heidi was about more than just statistics,” said Early, who
also serves as softball coach. “She was a clutch player who was
at her best in big games and crucial situations. She was a joy
to coach and just a special player.”
Martin graduated in 2003 and is currently head softball coach at
Texarkana’s Arkansas High School.
Reginald
Glover
.jpg) Reginald
Glover graduated from Arkansas A&M in 1955 and has been an
active supporter of the university’s programs in both academics
and athletics. He is a member of the UAM Board of Visitors and a
past member of the board of directors of the UAM Sports
Association. “Reginald Glover epitomizes the spirit of UAM,”
said Chancellor Jack Lassiter. “This institution has no better
friend than Reginald and I can think of no one more deserving of
this honor.”
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