Rex Nelson: Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Leaders Receive Honors

Rex Nelson Archive Page

Three men who have helped build the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame through the years – Jerry Jones, W.H. “Buddy” Sutton and Don Christian – will receive major honors later this year.

In October, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will be a charter inductee into the National Football Foundation Leadership Hall of Fame. Jones will be honored Oct. 3 during an event at the Omni Dallas Hotel. Jones grew up in North Little Rock and played football at the University of Arkansas.

Sutton and Christian, meanwhile, will be inducted into the University of Arkansas’ Sports Hall of Honor during a banquet Aug. 30 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center at Springdale. The two men also will be recognized the next day during the half of Arkansas’ season-opening football game against Louisiana-Lafayette at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Jones was the lead contributor to the campaign that resulted in construction of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Museum in the Verizon Arena at North Little Rock. He was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

Sutton headed the Hall of Fame Foundation for many years. In that role, the Little Rock attorney led the fundraising effort for the museum. In recognition of his efforts, he was named an honorary inductee into the Hall of Fame in 2003. The only other honorary inductee in the organization’s history is former baseball star Joe Garagiola, who served as the master of ceremonies for the first eight Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame induction banquets. Garagiola received the honor in 1985.

Christian served as the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame president in 1994-95.

Archie Manning, the National Football Foundation chairman, said of Jones: “Jerry Jones has established himself as one of our nation’s top businessmen with a desire to win that is eclipsed by no one. He honed his leadership skills early in life as an All-Southwest Conference player for Hall of Fame coach Frank Broyles on the 1964 national championship Razorback team, and he has built on those successes ever since. We are thrilled to have him as a charter NFF Leadership Hall of Fame inductee.”

The National Football Foundation announced the creation of the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame in May. Jones will join George Pyne, who is the president of IMG Worldwide Sports & Entertainment, as a charter inductee into the Leadership Hall of Fame.

“Jerry Jones cares deeply about the future of football, and he has been a great supporter for the NFF and its mission to protect the game for subsequent generations,” said Steve Hatchell, the NFF president. “He fully understands the power the sport commands in our society today, and he knows firsthand the value the sport can play in transforming young lives by teaching valuable lifelong lessons and creating educational opportunities.”

In addition to his induction into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, Jones was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. As a co-captain of the 1964 Arkansas football team, Jones is one of the few NFL owners who had a high level of success as a football player. He’s the only person to ever play for a national college championship football team and own a Super Bowl winner. Jones and the legendary George Halas are the only two men to have become NFL owners after playing in a major college football bowl game.

The National Football Foundation was founded in 1947 with early leadership from Little Rock native Douglas MacArthur, Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice.

Sutton played on the freshman team at Arkansas in 1949 and then lettered under head coach Otis Douglas from 1950-52. Sutton was a team captain and the school’s student body president as a senior. In 1952, Sutton led the Razorbacks in rushing with 448 yards and three touchdowns on 100 carries. He also returned five kicks for 143 yards that season. His best game came against Tulsa when he rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown.

Sutton played in the Blue-Gray Game and the Senior Bowl following his senior season. The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame presents the W.H. “Buddy” Sutton Meritorious Service Award each year in his honor.

Christian played on the freshman team at Arkansas in 1953, was redshirted in 1954 and then lettered from 1955-57 under head coach Jack Mitchell. He had four interceptions in 1955 to lead the Southwest Conference. He also averaged 27.7 yards on kickoff returns. Christian split time with George Walker in 1955. Christian played almost every snap in 1956 when Walker missed the season due to injury. Christian led Arkansas in passing with 260 yards on 18 completions and two touchdowns. He also led the team in total offense with 672 yards.

As a senior, when he again split time with Walker, Christian had 610 yards of total offense, scored four touchdowns and had one interception. He also returned punts.

The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1959. The Class of 2013 was inducted in March at Verizon Arena with more than 1,000 people in attendance at the induction banquet.

Ray Tucker is the executive director of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and longtime Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports editor Wally Hall is the organization’s president.

The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Museum on the west side of Verizon Arena is open each Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4:40 p.m. It includes an 88-seat theater with a video highlighting the careers of Arkansas sports greats along with a touch-screen kiosk with a database of all Hall of Fame inductees. Dues-paying members of the Hall of Fame vote each year on inductees.

Tags: , , ,