County Hall of Fame class announced for 2016

Sports Editor

The 2016 Union County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet will be held July 30 at the El Dorado Conference Center. This year's class of inductees includes Rose Avery, Joe Black, Sam Coleman, Vince Holyfield and Tommy May.

"This year's class of 2016 inductees represents five different high schools in the county and individuals who played or coached from the 1920s through 1990,” noted Hall of Fame committee member Randy Ross.

Avery is a 1986 Union High graduate. As a two-time All-State basketball player, she led her team to the 1986 Class B State Championship and was named MVP. She played two years at Tyler Junior College and was a two-time first team All-American at UA-Monticello in 1989 and 1990. In 1990, the Cotton Blossoms were NAIA National Runners-up.

Avery also played two years of professional basketball in Europe.

Black was a 1962 Smackover High graduate. He was a threesport athlete, playing basketball, track and was named a honorable mention High School All-American in football. He was a member of the 1964 National Champion Arkansas Razorback football team where he played linebacker. His high school coaching career in Missouri, Texas and Arkansas spanned 50 years. In Union County he coached at Norphlet Smackover and El Dorado.

Coleman was a graduate from Strong High in the early 1920s. He was a four-year letterman with the Arkansas Razorbacks in 1921-1924, making all-conference at center and team captain. Coleman in 1925 became the head coach at Camden High where he coached 32 years, winning two football and two track state championships. He is a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Holyfield is a 1982 graduate of Junction City High and was a three sport athlete. He was three years All-State in baseball and played on the 1980 and 1981 state champion baseball teams. He was a two-time All-AIC selection in baseball at Southern Arkansas University, where he led his team to the NAIA World Series making honorable mention All-American. He played in the minor league six years with the Phillies organization.

A Meritorious Selection, May is a 1965 EHS graduate and was quarterback on the football team. During his business career in El Dorado he was an active volunteer and coach with the El Dorado Boys & Girls Club. He has been at the forefront of assorted Simmons First National Corporation, educational and civic successes during his 27-year Simmons career. He is also noted and appreciated state wide for his philanthropic endeavors. A longtime supporter of UAPB, the J. Thomas May Field House in Pine Bluff is named in his honor. As a member of the Arkansas Board of Trustees, he has had a major impact on decisions regarding Arkansas Razorback athletics.