Arkansas Sports HOF class is diverse, great
It is an honor and privilege to announce the 2024 Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame class.
These 10 men and women are the 65th class and it is as diverse as it is outstanding.
The inductees are from several different sports ranging from thoroughbred racing to golf and of course there are football and basketball players, coaches and a world class Paralympic athlete.
They were chosen by the more than 500 members of the ASHOF and the Board of Trustees.
Membership to the organization is open to all sports fans and more information can be found at arksportshalloffame.com.
Members’ votes automatically put in the top two vote getters on the regular list and the top one on the seniors list, which includes deceased.
They also determine the top 15 to be voted on by the always spirited trustee meeting in November.
The latest class of honorees is listed in alphabetical order because all inductees are equally important. With that, here’s your newest Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame class:
Carla Crowder, basketball coach, has won four state championships, three at Bryant and one at Cabot in her 38-year career. While coaching at Bryant her teams won 63 consecutive games and as a head coach in high school and junior high she recorded 936 wins.
Glen Day, professional golfer, has won more than $9 million on the PGA and Nationwide tour. He also designs golf courses and was one of the most popular golfers on any tour. He’s also the answer to one of golf’s trivia questions: who was the first player to win a tournament using a Nike golf ball? Day beat Payne Stewart to win the MCI Classic with a Nike golf ball in 1991.
Al Flanigan, basketball, was 77-31 as a player at Southern Arkansas where he was named all AIC and his still No. 4 all time in scoring. He became a statewide name as coach at Parkview High School where he won seven state championships and more than 500 games.
Butch Gardner, basketball, played at Harding University and was all conference all four seasons and still holds the school record for scoring with 2,255 points. He coached for eight years before returning to his alma mater as an administrator.
Jeff Glasbrenner, impossible to name one sport because he is a world class amputee basketball player who does triathlons and climbs mountains. He has won both gold and silver medals in the Paralympic games.
Ed Harris, golf, is one of the most respected amateur golfers in Arkansas history having won more than 100 tournaments in a career that spanned more than 40 years. He is 91 years old.
Peyton Hillis, football, was an All-American at Conway High, played four years for the Arkansas Razorbacks and seven in the NFL and was on the cover of EA Sports Madden NFL 12 video game, chosen by a nationwide vote.
Eric Jackson, thoroughbred racing, created and developed Instant Racing which is credited for saving Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort and he will be the first man in Arkansas history, and only the fourth total, to be inducted into the Arkansas Business and ASHOF in the same year.
Ryan Mallett, football, was a Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas who passed for 7,493 yards, 62 touchdowns as a Razorback under Bobby Petrino. The Razorbacks were 18-8 in his two seasons. He spent seven seasons in the NFL.
Jason Peters, football, played offensive tackle for the Razorbacks but also had 21 catches as a tight end his junior year. He was undrafted by the NFL and is now in his 20th season, now with the Seattle Seahawks. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler and was first-team All-Pro twice.