Pryor Scrapbook Clippings, 1983-1997

Lewster ''Butch" Gardner consecutive men's and women's titles. · three · andmentioning that he was the father The 1957 Harding graduate has ~bed22 track andfield All Amai– cas and three. more in cross country. He served as head coach of the Pana- ' ma National Team in 1969-70 and wa~ a member of the United States of two fonna cheerleaders and· had had the opportunity to coach both his son and his two sons-in-law, he said, "It doesn't get any better. than that" Dr. Joseph E. Pryor coaching staff for the 1985 World An outstanding · basketball and The all-time scoring leader fm the Univmity Games in Japan. track perfonnez at Hardil)g, Pryor Bisom, Gaidner received unprece- Lloyd· remembtff.d that he had. was perhaps the most influential per- . dented All-Amaica honors follow- decided to be a coach his juni<X' year son in the AIC iil his role f<X" three ing his SQl)homore, junior and senior of high school. He thanked John ~des as Harding's faculty athletic seasons, and just may be the only Prock for giving him the oppoitunity . representative to the conference. He other athlete around to have been so to coach at Harding and humbly.said, retired from that position lastDecein– honored. . '81be reason I'm here (in the Hall of bel' after his third term as president of The Searcy product, who came 'Fame) is because of.two otha induc- the league. . back to Harding •in 1987 as Dean of tees" (Clark and Crawford). Instrumental in helping initiate the Men after serving as head coach for conference's academic guidelines, the Univmity of Arkansas-Pine · · Ronnie Peacock Pryor still serves as official scorer for Bluff, made All AIC and All District . intercollegiate basketball games and 17 each of bis four years at Harding Peacock became the eighth receiv- clock openu for football games. and his 2,255 points and 983 rz in collegiate football history to Pry<X" said that Harding has won rebounds are school recools. catch m<R than 200 passes in a · • moie AIC championships ·than any Of his selection, Gardner said this carea-. He rewrote the Harding and'· ·~ other member school, and qoted "is a great moment in my life." He leaguel'CCOl'4 books ~th 20~ catches .that's "not brag, but facL" H~ callc4 thanked his "numbez one fan" bis f<X' ~53 yards. And his 62 recep- the. AIC the greatest small college wife, and also his parents f<X'''teach- tions in 1970 stood as the league :.athletic confaence in the country. ing me a lot of things·about life." mark until 198S. It's still a school Gardnrz recalled the persistent · record. , recruiting efforts of coach Jess Bucy The McGdlee native was All AIC who ultimately convinced him to and All District 17. in bodl hisjunim come to Harding after he decided to and seni<X' years and was signed by attend another school. the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. \ T~y he is assistant head coach at Tom Ed Gooden Arkansas Tech Univmity. Peacock paid tribute to his wife Martina and to John Prock, his fatha– in-law and former coach as the pez– son"who's been more ofan influence than anyone else on my life." A triplc-thrmt quarterback for the Bisons in the early 70s, Gooden, of Carlisle, earned All-American hon– ors in 1973. The aderofdie Bisons f<X" three seasoos, Gooden accounted f<X" 3,667 yards fu total offense, " John Prock Elwin ·''Preacher" Rowe Rowe, the former Nati~Leagu~ ·pitching great, gained national auen– tion in 1937 when he struck out 26 Amnsas Tech batters in a 13-inning .game. The West Plains, Missouri, lefthander · attended llarding from- 1935-38 and led the Bisons to the · AIC championship his seni<X' year. He pitched for the Cardinals and including 1,002 rushing and 2,66S , · , · _ passing. He hit on 53-62 extra points Prock saved f<X' 24 years as Hard- · 12 field goals and had a career punt: ing's football_coach ~~ Ietirin~ in ing average of 39 yards 1987. The sixth wmnmgest active Pirates, but it was wi~ the Dodgers ·. that he gained fame. He was 19-11 in 1950 and a brilliant 22-3 in 1951 when the "Sporting News" named him top National League pitcher. His career recmt was 129-85 and he won two more in the World Series. The now successful high school ~ coach in the NAI:'\ ~ be coach said, '-Coach Prock is the one retired, Prock WOI~ AIC titles ID 1972 who brought me to Harding and I've and 1976. His 1972 squad finished nevtt been~ I came." And in typ- lhe season. 10-1, and ranked s~th in ical Gooden humility he noted, the NAIA. One of the wins was the "Anytime you receive' recognition, memorabl~ 30-27 decision over someonegave you the opportunity- Langston ID the . Cowboy Bowl I rtceived lots of opportunities here " . He won Coach of the Year honors · • three times and coached 10 All Ted Lloyd Amaicans and 63 1\.11-AIC perfor– mers· in his careez. The holder of a combined 22 AIC and 19 District 17 championships, Lloyd, the Bisons' men's and women's aoss country and 1rackand field coach, IIOfl has a stting of 18 Prock said, '1've really been blessed by having good playen. Tbt.re· is no gn,aia- professioo than coaching." he said. ..It makes your life stay young." Prais~g his wife Rowe recalled that he was born in a good home with .good parents and the "Lord blessed me in seeing that I came to Harding." He called the ' influence of Harding~s •,president– emeritus Dr. GC<X'ge S. Benson and . Coach Berryhill (M.E. '~j the greatest on his life, except for his parents. A native of NewpM, Smith, a 1963 gi'adute, holds a record 12varsi– ty letters eamed<in baseball, basket– ball. foolball and 1:><>wling. The versatile athlete won the first M.E. Berryhill Award for the out– standing senior spons perfonner. He 1 was a two-time All-AIC recipient in baseball and earned honorable men– tion honors two years in football. He is presently head baseball coach and mathematics professor. I Smith said, 'JI've been blessed in so many ways, and it's a special hon– I or to be an individual with this group." . . According to Harris, the 15 chattel' inductees were selected to "work as a good base for future selections", with I plans to add not more than five each year in the future. Each of the hoQOrees' photographs will hang in the Ganus Athletic Cen– ter for display.