Earl Bell
Bell broke the world record in the pole vault in 1976 with a jump of
18 ft., 7 ¼ in. This
three-time Olympian was a Bronze Medalist in the 1984 Los Angeles
Olympic Games, held the American record twice, and was the American
national champion in three different decades.
The Jonesboro native was a five-time NCAA champion at Arkansas
State University and the 1975 Pan-American Games champion.
His personal best is 19 ft., 3 in.
William Carr
Carr won two Gold Medals during the 1932 Olympic Games by winning
the 400 meters in 46.2 and anchoring the United States 4 x 400 relay
team to a new world record of 3:08.2.
He competed for Pine Bluff High School and the University of
Pennsylvania and is the only Arkansan to win two Olympic Gold Medals. He
was selected to the All-Time U.S. Olympic team in 1954.
Guy Kochel
Kochel coached two world record holders, three Olympic Medalist, and two
American record holders during his 17 year tenure as Head Coach at
Arkansas State University. He
was an Assistant Coach for the United States team in the 1984 Goodwill
Games and served as Vertical Jump Chairman for the U.S. Olympic
Development Committee from 1985-88.
In 1981, he authored the book, Practical
Coaching Techniques for the Pole Vault.
Jerry McConnell
McConnell, a sportswriter for the Arkansas Gazette, was one of the
best track & field writers of all-time. In 1958, he was co-developer of the first Arkansas High
School Meet of Champions and later played a major role in the
organization of the High School State Decathlon Championship. He
initiated a weekly listing in the newspaper of Best Track Performances
in the state for college and high school athletes.
Bobby Richardson
Richardson was named Arkansas High School Track Coach of the Year 12
times and was twice the recipient of the Lowell Manning Award.
This four-year letterman from Arkansas State Teachers College,
now University of Central Arkansas, used his experiences on the track to
build his tremendous knowledge of the sport.
In 1964, Richardson set a new AIC mile run record by 6.8 seconds
in 4:20.6. He coached
Crossett High School to 18 state track & field championships and
four state cross country titles.
Clyde Scott
Scott won the Silver Medal in the 110 meter high hurdles during the
1948 London Olympic Games and five months later was selected to an
All-American football team representing the University of Arkansas. As a
Razorback, he won the 1948 NCAA high hurdles championship and set school
records in the 100 yard dash, 120 yard high hurdles, 220 yard low
hurdles, and 440 yard relay. Later,
he played professional football with the Philadelphia Eagles.
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