Saline County History & Heritage Society, 123 N Market St, Benton, AR 72015, US

The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame brings the fulfillment of a dream, and the recollection of more than four decades of highly successful induction ceremonies honoring the athletic greats of Arkansas. The following is a brief history of Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame It all started in February, 1958, when a group of 25 businessmen were told by Milton Green, We owe something to these Arkansas people who have gone to the top of their careers, but are now about to be forgotten. Let's form an Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame From that beginning, an organization was incorporated on August 16, 1958, with Jack Pickens of Little Rock as president, Green as vice president, Clifford Shaw as treasurer, Warren Wood as legal counsel, and Allen Berry as secretary. A temporary Board of Directors also included Secretary of State C.G. Crip Hall, and sportswriters Orville Henry and Jack Keady of Little Rock, Jim Atkinson of Pine Bluff and Joe McGee of Conway. The objective was to be The selection, recognition, and acknowledgement of those persons who, through outstanding achievement and accomplishments in any form of endeavor, have brought honor, prestige, and fame to the state of Arkansas. The criteria to select honorees stated that Selection would be based on athletic accomplishment, character and leadership, national significance of honoree, conduct during years following active participation in athletics, prestige to the Hall of Fame, representation of women, balance between old-timers and present generation, national publicity, honor and credit brought to the home state, and representation of all sports over the years.