Little River County

Famous Folks

Sports

Helen Parker

Mrs. Parker was born in Okolona, Arkansas. She began her teaching and coaching career in 1947 at Ashdown High School. She was the coach of the Ashdown Pantherettes basketball team for 35 years.

Honors she has won:

1957-State Championship

1968-State Championship

1969-State Championship

1970-State Championship

1972-Head Coach of the South All-Star Basketball Team

1981-Outstanding Coach in Girls Athletics

1982-Outstanding Coach in Girls Athletics

1978-Outstanding Coach in Volleyball

1979-Outstanding Coach in Volleyball

1980-Outstanding Coach in Volleyball

1981-Outstanding Coach in Volleyball

1982-Distinguished Service Award from the National Federation of High School Coaches Association

1983-Curtis King Award from the Arkansas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame

1994-Ashdown High School Gym officially named "Parker Gym" after her and her husband-Coach Buddy Parker

2001-Inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame

Special Thanks to Marietta Humphrey for helping me with this, and for sending the picture and newspaper article. Thanks Marietta!

Earnest Rhone

Earnest Rhone was born in Ogden, Arkansas. He graduated from Ashdown High School in 1971, and from Henderson State University in 1975.

Honors:

1971-All AIC

1972-All AIC

1973 All AIC

1974-All AIC

1974-ALL DISTRICT

1974-NAIC ALL-AMERICAN

1975-1984-Linebacker for Miami Dolphins

1982-Defensive Captain for Miami Dolphins

1983-Super Bowl-led tacklers with 14

1985-Super Bowl

1988-Inducted into NAIA HALL OF FAME

Hazel Walker

Hazel Walker was raised in Oak Hill Arkansas, outside of Ashdown. She played basketball while attending Ashdown High School.

Honors:

1934-Tulsa Business College Stenos-AAU National Championship

1937-Lewis-Norwood Flyers-AAU National Championship

1938-National Free Throw Champion

1939-National Free Throw Champion

1940-National Free Throw Champion

1940-Lewis-Norwood Flyers-AAU National Championship

1940-Associated Press Female Athlete of the YEar

1941-Lewis-Norwood Flyers-AAU National Championship

1942-Most Valuable Player-AAU National Tournament

1943-National Free Throw Champion

1944-International Free Throw Champion

1945-International Free Throw Champion

1945-National Free Throw Champion

1946-National Free Throw Champion

1946-1949-Three seasons with the ALL-AMERICAN RED HEADS

1949-1965-HAZEL WALKER'S ARKANSAS TRAVELERS

1959-Inducted into the Arkansas Hall of FAme

2001-Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Little River County Arkansas Genealogy