By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City School District has a new athletic director.
Former University of Arkansas Razorback football player, Ellsworth Michael Bender, 58, of Fayetteville, was introduced this morning during a press conference held at the school's administrative offices.
Bender, originally from Strong, was a member of the 1964 Razorback national championship football team, coached by Frank Broyles.
He was selected from a short list of three finalists that included Barton football coach Frank McClellan and Bobby Cole of Lake Village.
There were 10 applicants for the athletic director's position, which came available in January when Bill Baxter announced his intentions to resign in May.
Baxter has held the AD's position on a part-time basis since 1996.
Forrest City Superintendent Lee Vent said Bender's hiring brings to a close a "very long, tedious and fruitful process that began more than two months ago."
Vent said each of the 10 applicants "were more than qualified for the position."
"His references look like a who's who of football throughout the world," Vent said of Bender, "not only within the United States, but into Canada and Europe as well."
Bender is coming to Forrest City after serving as the offensive line coach with the NFL Europe Rhein Fire team last year. In 2000, he was head coach at West Point Preparatory School. He served as a assistant coach at Arkansas two different times -- from 1995-97 as the offensive line coach under former UA football coach Danny Ford and coached Madre Hill, Verl Mitchell and the late Brandon Burlsworth. In 1979, he was offensive tackle coach under Lou Holtz where he coached All-American Greg Kolenda.
As a player and a coach, Bender has appeared in two Cotton Bowl games and one Sugar Bowl game.
Other coaching stops for Bender have included the Sacramento Gold Miners (CFL), UNLV, Rice University, South Carolina, New Mexico, El Dorado High School and as a player for the Atlanta Falcons from 1966-68.
After graduating from Strong High School, Bender attended the University of Arkansas on a football scholarship and was the captain of the 1965 Razorback team as a senior.
Upon being introduced, Baxter presented Bender with an official Mustang cap and a shirt, emblazoned with the words "Athletic Director" on the sleeve.
"This is indeed an honor for myself and my family," Bender said. "This is a dream come true for us. We have been looking for a situation such as this since returning from Germany."
Bender said he knows he has his work cut out for him in Forrest City, but added "nothing is impossible and it is a job I look forward to beginning."
"My first goal is to get Forrest City athletics back on a winning track," Bender said. "While at Arkansas I played with a lot of great athletes from Forrest City -- Richard and Ray Trail and Jim Finch -- just to name a few."
Bender said the first thing is to make certain that all of the Forrest City coaches and the administration "are on the same page. We all have to be pulling on the same rope from the elementary school programs all the way to the high school. That's what it will take. If we can get to that point, I think the program will turn itself around."
Bender is married to the former Gayle Johnson and the couple have two children, Brent, who accompanied his parents to the press conference, and Eden, who is married and resides in Fayetteville.
Bender has been actively involved in many civic organizations and is a professional member of the Federation of Christian Athletes, Athletes Outreach, and the National Football Coaches Association.
He said his immediate plans are to start looking for housing in the area and hopes to return in early April for the upcoming Fellowship of Christian Athletes "Evening of Influence" rally, set for April 8, at Mustang Arena.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Northeast Arkansas Dream Team, from Jonesboro, rolled through the AAU seventh-grade showcase tournament undefeated on Saturday.
The showcase event was held at Forrest City's Mustang Arena and featured four 13-under AAU basketball teams.
The Forrest City Colts AAU team, coached by Casey Baxter and Murry Cline, finished 1-2 in the day-long, round-robin tourney, as did the Little Rock Wolfpack and the Jonesboro Miracle.
The seventh-grade showcase event was the first to be held here and Bill Baxter, Colts' general manager said others will be held.
"We are hoping to have another one in April," Baxter said. "Probably with just three teams instead of four."
Forrest City's Stephon Weaver, who played for the Blue Junior Mustangs during the just-completed prep basketball season, was the leading scorer for the Dream Team.
Marcus Britt was the leading scorer through three game for the Forrest City Colts while Charles Jackson was the leading scorer for the Wolfpack.
The Colts defeated the Little Rock Wolfpack 47-39 for their only victory of the tournament.
Baxter also said that efforts are now under way to organize a 15-under and a 17-under AAU team.
"We had good fan support Saturday," Baxter said, "and watching the seventh-graders play was a lot of fun. There is some good talent on its way up through the basketball program."
The Colts will play in Memphis Tuesday night at Bellevue Baptist.
The Forrest City youth baseball and softball programs will hold their annual player drafts tonight and Tuesday night at the Forrest City City Hall.
Tonight's draft will begin at 5:30 p.m., when the Minor League (pitching machine) coaches meet.That will be followed by the Bambino (9-10) League at 6:30 p.m.; the Bambino (11-12) League at 7:30 p.m. and the Junior Babe Ruth draft at 8:30 p.m.
*On Tuesday, the T-Ball League will draft players at 5:30 p.m.; followed by the girls' 10-Under League at 6:30 p.m.; the girls 12-Under League at 7:30 p.m. and the girls 16-Under League at 8:30 p.m.
* PREP SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Friday, March 22
Wynne at Forrest City
Tuesday, March 26
Palestine-Wheatley at Des Arc
GIRLS FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL
Thursday's Score
Blytheville 11, Forrest City 10
Monday, March 25
Palestine-Wheatley at Humphrey, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 26
Woodlawn at Palestine-Wheatley