2008 Club Events
February
2008 Baseball Banquet on February 7th,
featuring Coach Dave Van Horn
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Our
crowd was smaller this year due to postponing the banquet a week
(bad weather) and multiple other events being held the same
night, but it was still successful.
Former Coach Norm DeBriyn represented the Razorback
Foundation at the event. Our key speaker, Head Razorback
Baseball
Coach Dave Van Horn was entertaining, as always, and gave a good
overview of what Razorback fans could expect from the team and
the 2008 season.
The
Auction and raffle were successful, with items such as an
autographed team batting helmet, an autographed team bat, a Dave
Van Horn autographed jersey, Razorback baseball tickets, etc.
The club presented $2,500 to the Razorback Foundation for the U
of A Baseball Program. |
 
Former
NWA Razorback Club President Steve Jacoby (far right) and wife Kay
(left) with
Coaches Dave Van Horn and Norm DeBriyn |
April
2008 Football Banquet on April 21st,
featuring Coach Bobby Petrino
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Current Club
President Doyle Groff with Coach Bobby Petrino and Chuck Barrett |
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The
2008 Football Banquet, presented by the NWA Razorback Club and
Arvest was a huge success with over 500 attendees.
During dinner, (with great food provided by our sponsor Premier,
as always), head football Coach Bobby Petrino signed
autographs for attendees. A live auction and raffle were held
with significant bidding on all auction items.
The formal program began with Club President Doyle Groff
introducing Chuck Barrett as emcee for the event.
Razorback Foundation Vice President Harold Horton recognized
the club and its efforts, introduced special guests in
attendance and brought up former Razorback cheerleader and
Arvest executive Dick Trammell to lead the crowd in the
Hog Call. |
Razorback Foundation President Chuck Dicus welcomed everyone and
acknowledged the history and growth of the club. Jeff Long,
University of Arkansas Athletic Director, thanked everyone for their
support and informed the crowd of the earlier resignation in the day of
head track Coach John McDonnell.
Head Razorback Football
Coach Bobby Petrino was introduced to lots of cheering and a very long
standing ovation. Petrino answered questions asked by Barrett about
himself, his football philosophies and the Razorbacks. He then took
questions from the audience.
The evening ended with another “Hog Call” and with the club presenting a
check for $10,000.00 to the Razorback Foundation for the U of A Football Program.
May
7th Annual Razorback
Classic Celebrity Scramble held May 31st
See
2008 Golf Tourney Results page...
NWA Razorback Club
Presents $1,000.00 Academic Scholarship
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The NWA Razorback
Club annually presents a $1,000
academic scholarship to a
Bentonville High School athlete (male or female) who will be attending the
University of Arkansas.
The scholarship has become an
annual award to BHS who
allow us to use their facilities for some club events,
significantly cutting down our costs and allowing more $ to
funnel directly to the Razorback Foundation for Razorback
athletic scholarships.
The 2008 recipient of the scholarship was Zachary
Duhamel, who ran Cross Country for the Tigers and began
attending the U of A in Fall, 2008. |
August
Networking Event Held
on August 7th at Aloft Hotel - Rogers
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Approximately 90-100 members and guests gathered at the Aloft
Hotel – Rogers on August 7th for our first club
“networking” event.
Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to meet other fans, talk
Razorback sports and “network”.
The club raised almost $500 from the event ($5 cover charge with
attendees receiving a raffle ticket for various prizes), with
proceeds to be given to the Razorback Foundation in the name of
Coach John McDonnell, former legendary Head Razorback Men's Cross
Country/Track and Field Coach.
After a drawing for the raffle prizes, Sean Rochelle,
Assistant Athletic Director – Development, led the group in
“Calling Those Hogs”!
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Picture of George Billingsley NWA Razorback Club Board of
Directors, compliments of Celebrate Magazine:
Front Row: Deanna Welsh, Boyce Billingsley, and Lisa
Lockwood; Second
Row: Wade Jones, Jeanne Groff, Doyle Groff and Bob
Alexander; Back Row: Allan Sangwin, Berry Jones, Dr. John Sands and Wyley
Elliott
Unable
to Attend: Steve Creekmore, Steve Jacoby, George Nunnally and Jim Reynolds |
September
Olympic Sports Banquet on Sept. 15th, featuring Athletic Director
Jeff Long
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George Billingsley NWA Razorback Club members met at Bentonville
High School to honor
Razorback Men’s and Women’s Olympic Sports programs.
The
group enjoyed a great meal donated and provided by
sponsor Premier. After club President Doyle Groff welcomed
attendees, member Dick Trammell helped begin the evening by
leading the group in “Calling the Hogs”.
Sean
Rochelle, Assistant Athletic Director – Development
introduced Bev Lewis, Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive
Associate Athletic Director and then led a “Meet the Coaches”
segment.
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Razorback coaches in attendance were:
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Lance Harter,
Head Razorback Women’s Cross
Country/Track and Field Coach
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Chris Bucknam,
Head Razorback Men’s Cross Country/Track and Field Coach
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Shauna
Estes-Taylor, Head Women’s Golf Coach
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Mark Cook,
Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach
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Eduardo
Rincon, Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach
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Michael Hegarty,
Head Women’s Tennis Coach
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Jeff Poppell,
Head Swimming and Diving Coach
The Coaches introduced
themselves and provided information
regarding their various programs.
A raffle and live auction
were held.
Members and their
guests were then addressed by University of Arkansas Athletic
Director Jeff Long who spoke about the merging of the Men’s and
Women’s athletic departments, as well as the future direction of the
program. He also took questions from the audience.
A check for $5,000.00 was
presented to the Razorback Athletic Department at the end of the evening
to benefit the various Men's and Women's Olympic Sports programs
NWA
Razorback Club Helps Honor Legendary Coach John McDonnell at Tribute
Dinner on September 18th
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Six NWA Razorback Club board members and their guests
represented the club at the John McDonnell Tribute Dinner,
held September 18th at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
The club Board of Directors voted to double the amount raised at
the club's aloft Hotel networking event in August and presented
a check for $1,000.00 to the Razorback Foundation in the name of
Coach McDonnell and the U of A Men's Cross Country/Track and
Field Program.
Board members in attendance paid for their own tickets to the
event, so 100% of the club’s $1,000.00 donation went to the
Foundation.
Also in attendance at the dinner were NWA Razorback club members
Randy and Valerie Lawson, who won tickets to the event in
the live auction at the club’s Olympic Sports banquet.
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Left to Right: U of A Chancellor Dr. G. David Gearhart and Jane;
Bob and Becky Alexander; Jeanne and Doyle Groff; Coach John
McDonnell; Steve and Lisa Lockwood; Wyley Elliott; and Deborah
and Jim Reynolds |
October
2008 Basketball Banquet on Oct. 9th,
featuring Coach John Pelphrey
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The club's 2008
Basketball Banquet was held Thursday, October 9th at Bentonville High
School, featuring Head Razorback Basketball Coach John Pelphrey.
Attendees enjoyed an
excellent meal provided by sponsor
Premier, a vast array of raffle and auction items and an
insightful and "entertaining" speech by Coach Pelphrey.
The event was also attended by
Bev Lewis,
Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive
Associate Athletic Director; Chris Wyrick, Senior Associate Athletic Director for
External Affairs; and Chuck Barrett,
Director of Broadcasting for the
University of Arkansas.
The club
presented a check for $2,500.00 to the Razorback Foundation for
the U of A Basketball Program. Another $1,000.00 was presented to
Coach Pelphrey for his Pel's Pals Foundation (see Related
Charities/Organizations
page).
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November
Networking Event Held
November 6th at Courtyard by Marriott - Fayetteville
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Club
members and guests
got together the evening of November 6th in Fayetteville to
"network" and talk Razorback Sports!
Attendees were joined by Razorback Athletic Director Jeff Long,
Razorback Foundation Associate Director Sean Rochelle and
Razorback Women's Gymnastic coaches Mark and Rene Cook.
$300.00 was donated by the club to the Tusk Fund to support Tusk
II, the Razorback live mascot.
A special thanks to the Courtyard by
Marriott - Fayetteville for hosting the event!
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