Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Austin, Wilson honored at annual Ila Upchurch Banquet

Shanna Austin, Willie Wilson and Tammy Harris were all winners at the 15th Annual Ila Upchurch Banquet Saturday, April 17.

Austin was named Citizen of the Year, while Wilson was hailed as Teacher of the Year by the organization. Harris, who wasn't on hand, was the winner of the Upchurch Scholarship.

Elaine Williams, in presenting the Educator of the Year Award, said Wilson had attended Hendrix College and the University of Arkansas, is a member of Munn's Chapel Baptist Church, the Dean of Students at Prescott High School and teaches advanced placement History.

Wilson, in accepting the award, said there were others who would have been excellent choices, but "humbly accepted" it on behalf of every teacher who graces the halls of the Prescott School District.

Williams also presented the Citizen of the Year Award, and said there were several words that could be used to describe the recipient  enduring, fascinating, expressive, loving, kind, warm-hearted, elevating and an angel. "She deserves this award because of her love of community participation," Williams said. "She will help in any area, and if you need information, she's the person to call."

Austin thanked her parents as being the two most important people in her life and thanked the Upchurch Corporation for the honor. She recognized several people in the audience, whom she called her "angels", as they had helped shape her life and make her the person she is today.

Hyacinth Deon, superintendent of the Prescott School District, presented the Upchurch Scholarship to Harris. She said Harris is an outstanding athlete at PHS, a scholar, a beautiful young lady, a role model for other students and an ideal student. Harris was not present to accept the award.

From there, Paul Eells, Voice of the Razorbacks, spoke to the approximately 100 people gathered at McRae Middle School. Much of his talk centered around the problems between the UA and Nolan Richardson, former coach of the Razorback basketball team.

Eells said he loves Richardson more than any coach he's ever dealt with and hates what's going on. In 2000, the Hogs were struggling on the court and UA Athletic Director Frank Broyles wanted to fire Richardson. However, the team rallied and won the Southeastern Conference tourney.

Broyles, Eells said, went to the Chancellor and President Alan Sugg about firing Richardson, but was told not to at the time.

The problem escalated between Richardson and the press when a couple of writers, Eells said were not kind to him, especially when his daughter was suffering from leukemia. At one point Richardson left the team and went to Minneapolis to be with his daughter. He was chastised in the press by some reporters for this, Eells said.

Richardson was having a losing season and said, after the Kentucky game, the UA could buy out his contract. Eells said Richardson won every national championship basketball has to offer, but when he met with the administration at the UA, his contract was purchased. He was told he could coach the last regular season game, but not the SEC tourney.

Eells said it was sad the 1994 Razorback team that won the national championship wasn't invited back to the UA for the 10th anniversary of winning the title. This, he said, was a decision made by the administration.

According to Eells, Richardson is not, nor has he ever been mad at the fans, and doesn't want his job at the UA back. He wants the satisfaction, Eells said, of knowing he was right. "This situation is unparalleled in college athletics, but Richardson has to do it." Eells was talking about the suit Richardson has against the University, which will go before a federal judge soon.

In the meantime, Eells said, Richardson is working on his ranch in Fayetteville to build a camp for underprivileged children.

While the Razorback basketball team seems to be in shambles at the time, Eells said, it is in good hands with Stan Heath, who was hired to replace Richardson. He said Heath has some outstanding recruits coming in next year to provide the "beef" the Hogs lacked this season.

Richardson, he said, and Heath have been in contact with one another, with Richardson encouraging and advising Heath.

Talking about football, Eells said the Hogs had a good year, with a rough patch where the team lost three in a row, but won nine games and a bowl game.

Razorback Stadium, he said, is a state-of-the-art stadium, and Bud Walton Arena is a marvelous facility. John McDonald has a new indoor track facility, Eells continued, joking that Broyles told him to quit winning so many national titles (he's won 38) because the UA is going broke buying the rings.

Arkansas' baseball field is ranked second in the nation, Eells said.

When Arkansas was a member of the Southwest Conference, he said, the athletic budget was $8-$9 million a year. But, since joining the SEC, the budget has swollen to more than $30 million annually. "It's a huge business. Football and basketball take care of all the women's sports."

Eells lauded Broyles saying there are those who have criticized what he's done over the year, but has created a lot of positive things for the state. "It's a tremendous responsibility to operate all of the sports, especially the non-revenue ones. I think we'll see more young women getting scholarships to go to college, either for athletics or academics."

On the collegiate level, he said, Arkansas is blessed to keep a lot of its young people in the state, even those who don't have division I scholarships.

He pointed out no tax money is used to finance Razorback athletics, as all funds come from the Razorback Foundation.

Before the banquet ended, Eells brought the crowd to its feet by making his well-known touchdown call for the Curley Wolves.