By Nate Allen
Special to the News-Times
FAYETTEVILLE - An unprecedented 15 honorees of Razorbacks and Lady Razorbacks greats of the past are to be inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor on the Sept. 14-15 weekend that includes Arkansas hosting North Texas in the 3 p.m. Sept. 15 football game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The 15 will be recognized at halftime of the Sept. 15 game after spending the Sept. 14 afternoon golfing and socializing at the Fayetteville Country Club and formal inductions at the Hall of Honor banquet on that Sept. 14 Friday night at the Fayetteville Town Center.
Honorees from men's basketball include Smackover’s Jonathon “Pookie” Modica, a two-time All-SEC standout while lettering from 2003-2006 as a guard for Stan Heath’s Razorbacks. Also being inducted is Rickey Medlock of Cave City, a guard lettering three years for Lanny Van Eman. As a senior, he significantly impacted Eddie Sutton’s Razorbacks debut with a 17-9 record, and he still the Razorbacks' career highest percentage free throw shooter.
Sytia Messer, a starting guard for Gary Blair’s 1998 Final Four team, including Outstanding Player of the West Regional, and 1999 WNIT championship team also is an inductee.
Honorees from football include defensive end Ivan Jordan, a Fort Smith Northside alum three-times All-Southwest Conference as a four-year letterman for Frank Broyles’ Razorbacks from 1972-75 and among the Razorbacks first great scholarship black football players following Jon Richardson’s recruitment in 1969, and All-Americans Ron Faurot, a 1980-83 letterman defensive end for Lou Holtz voted All-American by UPI in 1983, kicker-punter Bruce Lahay, lettering 1978-80 as a punter and voted All-American kicker in 1981 after redshirting in 1980 with All-Americans Steve Cox and Ish Ordonez also kicking then, and Russellville’s Greg Horne, a four-year letterman as punter and place-kicker voted All-American punter for Ken Hatfield’s Razorbacks in 1986.
From baseball, southpaw pitching great Nick Schmidt, the 2005 SEC Freshman of the Year and both All-American and All-SEC in 2006 and 2007 is an honoree.
Though men’s swimming is defunct at Arkansas, the Razorbacks nonetheless rightfully honor Jerry Spencer, the program’s first All-American five times over for coach Sam Freas and a SWC champion.
Men’s tennis honors Ewell Lee, a 1953-55 letterman and longtime tennis icon at Hardscrabble in Fort Smith and a prominent booster to the UA’s Dills Indoor Tennis Center.
For track and field, the men’s program honors Randy “Mongo” Stephens, a four-time All-American, four-time SWC half-miler integral in 1982 for John McDonnell’s Razorbacks winning the first SWC outdoor team title in UA history.
The women’s program honors former U.S. Olympic pole vaulter April Steiner Bennett, a four-time All-American and a four-time SEC champion competing for Lance Harter’s Lady Razorbacks from 2000-2003.
Men’s golf honors former coach Steve Loy, who had three SWC runner-ups and two national top 10 finishes.
Women’s gymnastics honors Dana McQuillin, a member of coach Mark Cook’s program’s inaugural 2003 class and the program’s first NCAA qualifier. Women’s volleyball honors Kim Storey Chronister, the program’s second All-American in 1998 under former coach Chris Poole who was three-times All-SEC and is still the program’s career leader in hitting percentage (.365).
Banquet tickets are available by calling (479) 443-9000.