A photo slide show and audio recording of the full ceremony will be made available below the photos that follow this article.
HPS Superintendent Jonathan Crossley opened the afternoon by noting that the last formal induction ceremony occurred in 1992, calling this class especially significant because it represents “three decades worth of individuals to think about.” He emphasized that the selection committee relied not merely on memory but documentation — “hard data, newspaper clippings, all-state honoree notifications” — in determining inductees.
The program then unfolded inductee by inductee, each introduced through Crossley’s extended narrative readings before family members, teammates and friends offered their own words.
Ronald Stewart
Crossley began with Ronald Stewart, describing how his “athletic journey began with family,” growing up in Hope surrounded by siblings who excelled in multiple sports. Stewart watched his brothers compete in track, football and basketball and his sisters stand out in track, developing a mission early to represent the Stewart name with pride.
One of Stewart’s proudest accomplishments, Crossley read, was earning a college football scholarship to Lincoln University in Missouri which “meant more than just recognition. It was an opportunity.”
Crossley quoted Stewart’s own guiding principles, emphasizing that he described himself as “both an athlete and a scholar,” and that athletics and academics “work together to shape character, elevate discipline and build confidence in life beyond the playing field.”
He added that Stewart hoped to be remembered “as someone who cared about people, worked hard and gave everything he had, a competitor in athletics and in life.”
One speaker reminded the audience that Stewart was “a 1966 graduate of Yerger High School,” and thanked the committee for its unanimous selection.
Stewart’s nephew said of his uncle, who asked him to accept the trophy in his place, said it was a pleasure to accept the award.
DD Holyfield
Introducing DD Holyfield, Crossley read at length from the prepared biography.
“Holyfield’s athletic journey began early, at just about four years old, when his father coached Pee Wee football in 1988,” Crossley said. “From the start, football wasn’t just a sport, it was a family tradition.”
He emphasized a defining moment during Holyfield’s junior season when Coach Phil Turner was unable to attend a game. Rather than falter, “the players led themselves, coached each other and held one another accountable, proof that winning is built in discipline, leadership and in brotherhood.”
Crossley continued by detailing Holyfield’s approach to competition:
“His mindset was simple. Every game is a big game, and big players rise in big moments.”
He cited statistics — “1,901 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior. … Thirty-five total touchdowns as a senior” — before concluding with Holyfield’s hopes for how he’ll be thought of in the future:
“Holyfield hopes to be remembered as one of the great ones, a leader who sharpened his teammates and lived by one principle, ‘Iron sharpens iron.’”
Holyfield himself thanked God, his coaches and his father, and then turned toward his longtime teammate.
“This is a moment that I always dreamed of, always walking in the gym, seeing other athletes before my time and obviously saying, ‘I'm going to work hard to get on that wall.’ It's not a lot needing to be said. It's a lot of people to be thanking, lots of coaches, lot of the community, my dad for introducing me to the game, my brother for seeing the trail before me and most of all, my best friend, CJ.
“Nobody really knows the competition that we had with one another to make each other great.”
His father, fighting emotion, told the audience, “I might not see nothing else, but I got a chance to see my baby in the Hall of Fame.”
Jami Godwin
Crossley’s reading for the late Jami Godwin was one of the most detailed of the night.
“Her father served as the Hope High School softball coach,” he read, noting that she spent “countless hours around the game.”
He described her junior season in 2011:
“She pitched every inning of every game and helped her team reach the state championship game in Fayetteville.”
Crossley added that in a Florida tournament run, after losing the opening game, her team battled through the losers’ bracket and won the entire event, with Godwin pitching five of the nine games.
He quoted her defining mindset: “I refuse to lose.”
Calling her selection unanimous, Crossley told the family, “There really are none above Jami, just the way that she showed her competitive edge and spirit and commitment to excellence.”
Her father Mike said at the podium. “On behalf of Jami, we're proud to accept this award. It's a very prestigious award. So many good people, like Coach said before, are in the Hall of Fame, and it's just an honor for her to be selected. If she was here today, she would be honored and proud.” With a tear or two, he continued, “I wasn't going to do this, but I always do. But on behalf of Jamie, thank you so much.”
Jaidyn Simington
Crossley’s reading for Hope Bobcats cheerleader Jaidyn Simington focused heavily on her resilience.
“Her career was defined not only by talent, but by pushing through injuries while continuing to show up, train and compete at the very highest level.”
He noted that her work ethic carried her into Division I competition where “she placed in the winner’s circle at the NCAA nationals twice.”
Crossley described her standards:
“She believes that every little thing matters, being on time, giving full effort and staying consistent in the small moments that lead to big success.”
Simington thanked her coaches, teachers and administrators “that I bothered every single day while I was in school.”
One of her coaches recalled her dislocating her shoulder during practice and insisting, “If y’all would get me my tea over there, I can take a sip and I’ll be just fine.”
Ricky Rhodes
Crossley read that Ricky Rhodes’ athletic mindset was forged early in a competitive home.
“One of the proudest moments of Coach Rhodes’ athletic career came when he signed his letter of intent to play college football.”
He described a defining comeback of Rhodes’ Bobcats against Arkadelphia, when down 17-0 and facing injury adversity, “the team united, emotionally and mentally, determined to overcome the deficit.”
Crossley quoted Rhodes’ guiding principle:
“Be a student first.”
Rhodes thanked his early coaches and his brothers for contributing their labor so he could play.
“Like you said, I was of humble beginnings, and I thank my brothers, especially because my parents weren’t sure about me playing sports at all. We stayed on a farm outside town, and there was a lot of work to be done, but because of them, when they’d take up my chores, I was able to play. So I thank them first, and then I can thank a lot of you here that said encouraging words along the way and just kind of pushed me a little bit harder, a little bit further. I thank you.”
His wife told the audience of his attitude towards his players during his coaching career, which continues, “He treated them all like his children.”
CJ Ellis
Crossley’s reading for the late CJ Ellis included some of the evening’s most poignant descriptions of obstacles overcome.
“As a baby, he was placed in a full body cast after an accident. Later he tore his ACL his senior year, then suffered two more ACL injuries in college. Still, he never quit.”
He added that Ellis “earned a full scholarship to Southern Arkansas University” and played six years in the Canadian Football League.
Crossley quoted Ellis’ life advice:
“Stay in school, learn your lessons and dedicate yourself fully.”
He concluded: “His story is proof that greatness isn’t just what you do, it’s what you bring out in others.”
Cecil Ellis said of his son that when you were quarterbacking a game he was in, you always watched “number 22. If you had the football in your hand, you looked for number 22.”
Arnetta Bradford said, “You got the same CJ any time you talked to him. His leadership was not just on the football field.”
Ronnie Powell
Crossley read that Powell’s journey began when two friends persuaded his parents to let him play organized sports, promising they’d do his chores in exchange.
He described a defining moment when Coach Johnny Turner challenged him directly in a matchup against Little Rock Hall.
“From that point on,” Crossley read, “Powell approached competition like a chess match, mental, personal and intense.”
At the podium, Powell said, “Thank everybody for being here and the committee for voting me in. It's a blessing in itself. I grew up during a time where I leaned on community. I see a bunch of families here that helped me along my way … I can truly say the community of Hope has guided me. When I had a chance to leave Hope, you'd be surprised how many Bobcats I saw. I saw along my journey in professional football. When they asked me a question, I always referred back to where I come from. I try to be a positive role model for my boys and stay strong.”
A friend of Powell’s also praised his commitment as a father, stating, “Every man can leave. But he’s there.”
Bubba Powers
Crossley described Bubba Powers’ Hall of Fame legacy as “about more than just football but leadership, service and being the kind of presence that people trust. He wants to be remembered as a man who helps.
“Bubba Powers will be remembered as a Bobcat whose strength extended beyond the game, a leader, a friend, a steady presence in the Hope community, someone who showed up when it mattered, former State House of Representatives member, current school board member, and the list goes on.”
Powers delivered a speech that first recognized each of the other inductees for their distinctive skills and contributions. He said he had been able to witness many of their accomplishments on the field when he and the next inductee Randy Wright broadcast games on a cable access channel.
He also spoke of experiencing integration as a Hope Bobcat football player in 1969 and winning the state championship in the season that followed.
“You have several seminal moments in your life,” he said. “One of the great moments of my life was in 1969. We wanted to prepare, we wanted to care, and we wanted to win a championship.”
As a current Hope Public Schools board member, he advised listeners to act in the interest of students attending the schools now, saying, “These kids deserve your support.”
Randy Wright
Crossley’s reading for Randy Wright emphasized adversity and response. He recounted a pivotal incident:
“Early in the game against Arkadelphia, Randy was ejected after a heated exchange became a fight. Coach Higgins challenged him directly, then did something that mattered even more. He gave him a second chance the following Monday.”
Crossley continued:
“Coach Higgins told him he was starting again that Friday night, but he had to prove himself the right way. Randy responded with discipline and determination, carrying that lesson far, far beyond football.”
He summarized Wright’s guiding philosophy:
“Keep getting up. Everyone gets beat, everyone gets blocked. But success belongs to those who respond the right way. Play the next play, keep moving and don’t let setbacks define you.”
Crossley concluded:
“Randy Wright will be remembered as a hardworking Bobcat who earned his role through effort, learned through adversity, and carried himself with pride. His story reflects the heart of Hope athletics, resilience, accountability and the kind of character that lasts long, long after the game.”
Like Powers, Wright reflected on integration in 1969, calling it an “exciting a period of time in my life. It defined how I wanted to be a person.”
He remembered Coach Willie Tate telling the team, “Guys, we’ve got an opportunity this year to meet some goals that hadn’t been met in our time.”
Wright said the sense of camaraderie that followed produced “a great union of a team that worked together for a goal.”
He also took the opportunity to talk up the millage raise for Hope Public Schools that early voting recently opened for and which will be decided in the March 3rd Primary Election.
"It's time now, folks in this community, for us to step up, have an impact on what our school need. Give the kids an opportunity to have a great education. Everybody needs to vote for this millage, because it's only going to give us an opportunity to get to the level of everybody else. It's been 45 years since we had that. Let's get after it and do it again. I'm so happy to be a part of this group. I'm honored, humbled and a little bit awestruck about it, but I appreciate everyone for it," Wright said.
Well over 150 attendees watched the induction. In the audio segment below, you can hear what they said and you’re invited to help identify the speakers in the comments section below.
