Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

14 Inducted Into Athletic Hall Of Fame

Time travel is possible, though not the way shown in science fiction movies.

A trip to the past was taken by the 14 new inductees to the Gurdon Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday, May 1.

It was a most pleasant trip for all involved, as memories were shared and winning moments were relived.

The evening began with Gurdon High School Principal Leonard Gills welcoming all to the event, telling them Gurdon has one of the best and most attractive facilities in the state.

He spoke of the new Cabe Middle School, with the addition of a new physical education building and more classrooms.

Gills also talked about the new football field, field house, concession stand and track being built at this time.

Students are doing well athletically and academically. The football team, Gills said, went three weeks into the playoffs, while the district hosted the regional basketball playoffs. The roundball Devils played one game in the state tourney as well.

As of Saturday, the baseball team was still playing in the regional tourney, and students are competing in post-season track as well.

Academically, he said, three students were selected to the Arkansas Governor's School. Only 400 students from across the state were so honored.

Gurdon also had a runner up for the interscholastic star of Arkansas, competing in three areas: academics, athletics and outside activities.

Rick Pruitt acted as master of ceremonies for the event, saying those to be inducted would get to relive the moments earning them this honor.

"This group and the ones before," he said, "helped mold GHS athletics. Few small schools can boast the tradition Gurdon has."

In most instances, the introduction of the inductee took longer than the acceptance speech made by the person inducted.

To a person, all recipients were honored at being remembered and inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Jim Stiffler opened the inductions by introducing Larry Marion. Marion, he said, played quarterback in the wishbone offense being ran by Gurdon at the time.

During his three years with the Devils, the team went 25-9-1. Marion earned honors for his gridiron efforts, as well as his time on the hill as pitcher for the Devil baseball team.

For his part, Marion told the packed house he was surrounded by great players. The thanked the selection committee for picking him, saying it was an honor.

Donald Williams introduced Lavinia Young for induction. He said she had a major impact on his being a coach at Gurdon.

Young graduated from GHS in 1992, being named all district three years, all conference, scoring an average of 18 points per game and leading the team in all categories.

Young thanked her family, coaches Williams and John Ware for their influence and Andy Hatley for driving the bus.

"It's an honor and privilege to be

inducted," she said. "I'm glad to be here. I've seen some people I haven't seen for a while."

D.W. Bryan had a lengthy introduction for Roland "Lefty" Davidson.

He said Davidson lived near the school and was at the field all the time. In 1939, he went out for football, but there was no junior program and, being a freshman, he had to sit out a year.

However, from 1940-42, Davidson was a terror on the gridiron, making those across from him rue their decision for being on the field.

Davidson said it was an honor to be picked and to be a Go-Devil. He remembered several people from his time at GHS, giving special praise to his coach, Ed Sherman.

Stiffler was up again to introduce Brad Harris, captain of the 1988-89 team, earning all state and all district honors.

Harris was 7AA runner up as outstanding lineman, a three-year letterman and starter.

Harris simply thanked the committee, saying it is the greatest honor he has ever received. "I'm proud to be in the Hall of Fame," he said.

Next up was Bobby Smithson, for Larry Gore. Before he introduced Gore, Smithson said the new stadium will be dedicated at the first home game next season and invited all former coaches and players to be present at the ceremonies as it will be dedicated in their honor.

In 1981, he said, Gurdon lost its basketball coach and was searching for one as the season neared. In making calls, Smithson was told Gore would make a good coach for the team.

At the time, he was coaching Mena's junior basketball team. But he took the job at GHS and led the team to the overall state championship in 1982 with a 30-2 record.

For his efforts, Gore was named coach of the year in the district and state.

He spent only two years at GHS, leaving with a 50-8 overall record.

"I had a great time at Gurdon," Gore said, thanking Smithson for giving him his first head coaching job.

"Coaches are never better than the players they have," he continued, "and we had great players. They were special."

Stiffler returned to the stage a third time to introduce Joe Stricklin.

He said Stricklin could have been inducted before, but declined the honor so others could be placed in the hall instead and not to take away from his own daughters.

Stricklin played on a football team running the single wing formation and was a triple threat as tailback. "He ran like a Mack truck with good speed," Stiffler said.

He earned all district honors in 1952-53, went to the University of Arkansas and Henderson State University. Stricklin was also an avid supporter of the Devils, acting as their film man for 25 years.

"It's an honor to be in the Gurdon hall," he said. "The best team I played on was in my junior year, when we only had 19 players. Football was a lot of fun and sometimes we got to make up plays in the game."

Clint Burleson was on hand to induct Bobby Neal, as the two have been friends most of their lives.

Burleson called Neal one of the finest players he was ever around, saying Neal deserved the honor.

In his years with the team, 1945-47, Neal was named all district and honorable mention all state. From Gurdon he went to Henderson, playing four years and being named all AIC.

From college Neal went into the Army, making it his career.

Neal thanked the committee, saying it was a real honor to be selected.

"Without the others on the team," he said, "I could not have excelled. It's a team sport."

He also praised his coaches, saying they made men of boys.

Stiffler hit the stage a fourth time to induct Mark Osburn.

Osburn, he said, was a pure punter and the coaches were given a "hands off policy" being told not to try and coach his kicking style.

In high school, Osburn averaged 38 yards per punt, increasing this to 41.4 yards during his collegiate career at the University of Central Arkansas.

Osburn, Stiffler said, proved fo