O f all the events that have happened at the Pine Bluff Convention, Saturday night’s kickoff of the Jefferson County Hall of Fame will go down as one of the most momentous. In one room on one night, the largest ever collection of the greatest athletes from this area gathered to be celebrated and to celebrate each other. There were stars from the school, state and national levels.
“Sometimes in life, there’s only one and we got to be part of that one,” said Charles Washington, a University of Arkansas defensive back in the 1980s who was honored during the event. “God gifted us with gifts we were able to give back to you.”
That pretty much sums it up.
It was appropriate that the gala took place on the arena floor of the Convention Center. The event not only celebrated the greatest athletes from across the years; it also celebrated some of the greatest sporting events. Topping that list was Arkansas’ 65-64 win in 1984 over the University of North Carolina, a team that was led by Michael Jordan. That game, which was nationally televised, was played on the same arena floor.
Football great Willie Roaf, an NFL Hall of Fame member, is already a member of other halls of fame but said this one seals the deal.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“This is very special,” he said. “This is the last hall of fame banquet I will go in. It’s only fitting we would have it in the city of Pine Bluff, where we have all of our homeboys and homegirls.”
Torii Hunter, baseball star, who still looks like he could step to the plate or make a diving catch on a line drive, brought the event home by saying it takes a village of sorts to help encourage and guide youngsters to do great things.
“Kids, if you’re in here, it’s all about your environment,” he said. “It’s all about the people around you. If you’ve got five guys around you, go take a look and see if you need to be with them. Are they speaking the same language you’re speaking?”
With the many sports giants that were honored on Saturday night, it’s obvious that Jefferson County has been a hotbed for athletics. It’s a wonderful thing that the organizers not only had the idea but took the time — a year or more in planning — to put something together that will be there forever. Such a bookmark in history is long overdue.
Bill Carr, a two-time Gold Medal Olympic winner from Pine Bluff, is honored with a room dedicated to his achievements at the Pine Bluff Public Library. This new hall of fame will share that space. It will be a fine thing to be able to drop in there and soak up all of this rich history — history that is part of the fabric of our lives.