Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Tucker addresses annual chamber crowd

The speaker for the 2007 Gurdon Chamber of Commerce banquet was a familiar face to most. Having been a television sports caster and former voice of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Ray Tucker was well received by those at the banquet, and he was equally gracious to have been invited.

You have to come to a small town like this to get to the heartbeat of America, he said.

Tucker is the director of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, located below Alltel Arena in North Little Rock. Although some say he is as well known as most others in Arkansas Sports, he made it clear that the chambers 2006 speaker was likely better known.

I cant believe I have to follow Houston Nutt in Gurdon, Arkansas, he said.

Tucker spoke briefly about the rich sports heritage in Arkansas and how that heritage is captured at the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He admits that the museum is top heavy with basketball, baseball and football greats from years gone by, but those from other sports are also included.

A total of 290 persons have been inducted into the hall of fame to date. He said it is the goal of the foundation to honor people by inducting them and not being so picky that many of the greats are not selected.

All inductees must have either been born in Arkansas or have brought world wide fame to Arkansas through sports.

One of the things Tucker hopes will come from the opening of the museum in April is the inspiration it will provide for student athletes.

They have to know that they have to excell academically to excell athletically, he said. We want them to be able to set their goals high.

Tucker took questions from the audience after his discussion of the museum. The first of these questions asked for his opinion on the situation surrounding University of Arkansas head football coach Houston Nutt.

When the Razorbacks are winning, it makes life much easier, he said. We have a great deal to be proud of.

Tucker said that those who criticize Nutt on a personal level simply do not know him. He said he counts Nutt as a friend who is a very good person.

As to the leaving of UA athletic director Frank Broyles, Tucker said he knew it would be interesting when Coach left.

Nobody on this planet has been a better athletic director and has built what he has than Frank Broyles.

Tucker invited all in attendance to visit the sports hall of fame museum when it opens in April. He also said the organizations annual banquet is very family friendly.