Cleon Brown inducted into 2016 UCA Hall of Fame

Cleon Brown inducted into 2016 UCA Hall of Fame

Former Blue Devil honored in Conway ceremony

ralphhardin@gmail.com The University of Central Arkansas in Conway added seven new members to the UCA Sports Hall of Fame this fall.

The Class of 2016 was honored at the annual UCA Sports Hall of Fame Brunch at the Student Center Ballroom on Saturday, Sept. 17, prior to the UCA-Northwestern State football game. The seven stand-outs were the 16th to be inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame.

Among those inducted Saturday afternoon was Cleon Brown of West Memphis. Brown, a 1980 graduate of West Memphis High School, was an NAIA All-American defensive tackle at UCA on the 1984 National Championship team and also threw the shot put for the Bears’ track team.

Brown, a standout defender recruited by former coach, Ken Stephens also who played for Coach Harold Horton.

“I remember after coach Horton took over, he came to visit me and put his feet on the couch,” Brown said. “I was thinking, ‘we don’t do that in these parts,’ but I knew right away he was a keeper.”

David McCollum, reporter for the Log Cabin Democrat, the Conwaybased newspaper noted, “By the way, Brown is still vibrant after having two kidney transplants a year ago and last March. When he rose to accept his plaque, he received at least a minute-long standing ovation.”

Other members of the UCA Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2016 included The Class of 2016 will include Nathan Brown (football), Lisa Dreher (softball), Layton Gray (football/track), Bobby Hill (football), Don Struebing (football) and Bill Terwilliger (basketball/coaching).

By Ralph Hardin