Football was the common thread linking Stanley Winfrey, Harvey Hampton and Carter Ray Crawford to Forrest City athletics.
The three make up the 2002 Forrest City Athletic Hall of Fame class for those athletes who graduated after 1970.
The banquet and induction ceremonies will be held today at 5 p.m., at the Forrest City high School cafeteria.
Winfrey and Crawford went on to play in the NFL.
Both still reside in Arkansas with Winfrey remaining in Forrest City and Crawford living just to the north in Jonesboro.
Hampton, who is thought to be the first player to start for the Razorbacks as a freshman, now resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
Winfrey was born in Forrest City but grew up in the Newcastle community.
Winfrey graduated from Forrest City in 1971 and was the blocking back for fellow Hall of Fame member Robert Lee Steward.
Steward was inducted in to the Hall in 2000.
Winfrey attended Eldridge Butler Elementary in Madison and then moved into the Forrest City school district.
He took to the football field and also was active with the track team, setting several records in distance and relay events.
Following graduation from Forrest City, Winfrey had no college scholarship offers and decided to walk on at Illinois State University, after being contacted by his cousin, Charles Phillips.
Phillips had talked ISU coach Larry Bitchon into giving Winfrey a tryout, with the stipulation being if Winfrey made the team he would be given a scholarship.
Having been used in high school primarily as a blocking back, Winfrey had never been given the chance to carry the football much.
"I wasn't used to holding onto the football," Winfrey said. "So coach made me carry the football around with me everywhere I went -- even to bed at night.
That propelled Winfrey to a 1,000-yard rushing season which won him Freshman of the Year honors.
In the spring of 1972, Winfrey transferred to Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and went through spring training under then coach Bill "Bull" Davidson.
By the time ASU concluded drills, Winfrey was told he had earned the starting fullback position. In two of the next three football seasons at ASU, Winfrey ran for a 1,000 yards.
In January, 1975, Winfrey was taken in the second round of the NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. That summer, Winfrey played for the East All-Stars in the East-West All-Star High School football game and helped the East to a 21-14 win.
He also played in the College All-Star Game, against the then world champion Pittsburgh Steelers. He started in the backfield alongside the late Walter Payton.
His first carry as a Miami Dolphin was good for a 49-yard touchdown. He went on to enjoy a five-year NFL career, playing for the legendary Don Shula.
Winfrey continues to live in Forrest City where he is self-employed in the construction business.
*Carter Ray Crawford graduated from Forrest City High School in 1981 and is best remembered as one of the hardest hitting defensive tackles ever to wear a Mustang uniform.
While at Forrest City, Crawford was named to the All-Conference, All-State and All-American teams and was named a National Blue Chipper.
Following graduation, Crawford went to Northwest Mississippi Junior College where he helped lead the team to an undefeated season and to the JUCO National Championship. He led the team with 76 solo tackles and was in on 42 take downs which included 15 quarterback sacks.
Once again, Crawford was selected to the All-Conference, All-State and All-American teams.
After two years at Northwest, Crawford transferred to Arkansas State University where he became the first defensive lineman to lead the Indians in tackles, two consecutive years.
He compiled a total of 198 tackles, 26 of them quarterback sacks. He recovered a school-record six fumbles.
In 1985, Crawford was named as one of Sports Illustrated's Top 25 collegiate players.
He remains one of only three two-time All-Americans in ASU history and All-Conference. In 1997, Crawford was inducted into the Arkansas State University Hall of Honor.
After graduation from ASU, Crawford signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and then played with Montreal in the Canadian Football League until his retirement.
*Harvey Hampton joins his brother, William, in the Athletic Hall of Fame, the fourth set of brothers to be elected, joining Ray and Richard Trail, Cecil and Manuel Twillie and Bill and Donnie Kessinger.
William, who will accept the honor tonight, was inducted into the Hall last year.
Harvey graduated from Forrest City High School in 1972 after starting for the Mustangs for three years.
He was named to the All-State football team in 1971 and then went on to attend the University of Arkansas, playing for Coach Frank Broyles.
He started for the Hogs defensively all four years and earned the Crip Hall Homecoming Award as a senior in 1976.
Following college, Hampton coached at the college level at both Arkansas and at the University of Memphis.
FORREST CITY -- Forrest City White built a 16-0 lead and went on to knock off MacArthur 24-6 Thursday in junior high football.
Forrest City White led 8-0 at the half and scored one time each in the third and fourth quarters to lead 24-0.
MacArthur (0-3) scored on Tony Brooks' 1-yard run with 6:16 left after recovering a fumble and returning it 56 yards to the Forrest City 4.
Alfred Robinson scored twice for the White Mustangs while Travis Holloway scored one touchdown. Michael Holland and Rashad Gray each scored two-point conversions.
Annie Camp 28, FC Blue 8
Kyle Rothgery and Cody Pace combined for 172 yards rushing as Annie Camp whipped Forrest City Blue 28-8 in junior high football Thursday at Cooksey-Johns Field.
Rothgery ran for 90 yards on 10 carries and Pace finished with 82 yards on 10 carries.
Annie Camp (3-0, 1-0 AAAAA-East) built a 14-0 lead by halftime.
Forrest City (2-1, 1-1) cut the margin to 20-8 with a TD and two-point run late in the third period by Cory Embry.
"They were the biggest junior high team I've seen." said Forrest City Coach Rich Trail.
Cross County 8, Hughes 6
At Cross County Kendole Boykin scored on a 46-yard run in the first quarter and stuffed a tying two-point conversion attempt with a tackle at the goal line with 38 seconds left to give Cross County a 8-6 junior high football victory over Hughes Thursday.
It was the first loss of the year for the Junior Blue Devils while Cross County stays unbeaten at 3-0.
Hughes scored with just 38 seconds to play but Boykin stopped Hughes inside the 1 on the two-point attempt to preserve the victory.
Marked Tree 50, Parkin 22
Brian Coleman and Patrick Powell each rushed for two touchdowns to lead Marked Tree to a 50-22 junior high football victory over Parkin Thursday.
Powell rushed for 128 yards on 10 carries while Coleman picked up 87 on the ground.
Marked Tree improves to 3-0 overall and in the 3AA.
Walnut Ridge 28, Earle 0
At Earle, Walnut Ridge used a solid 207 yards of offense and held Earle to 67 yards Thursday night in a 28-0 Walnut Ridge victory.
Walnut Ridge, 2-1 overall for the year, led 22-0 at the half.
Palestine-Wheatley 26, Rector 6
Adam Kennedy scored twice for the P-W Junior Patriots Thursday returning a kickoff and a punt and Tanner Wright and Ricky Thorne added touchdowns as P-W won for the first time this season, 26-6 over Rector.
Defensively, P-W was led by Nathan Bridges, Joey Kitchens, Ryan Halbert, Taylor Clark, Daniel Haynes and Raymond Taylor.
P-W improves to 1-2 for the year.
"It was good to get the win," said P-W Coach Dan Cockrell. "The conditions were horrible but we played as well, especially the defense."
MARIANNA -- The Marianna Lady Trojans downed the Forrest City Lady Mustangs in straight games 15-6, 15-2 Thursday amd then took care of the JV Lady Mustangs 15-0, 15-7 in volleyball action.
Forrest City falls to 0-3 for the year.
*Jonesboro remained unbeaten on the year, winning its 10th straight match, as the Lady Hurricane beat Memphis Briarcrest 15-6, 14-16, 15-11 Thursday night.
Led by Allyson Seagrave with 15-of-15 serving and 19 assists and Kristin Etter with 18 kills and 12 digs, Jonesboro improves to 10-0 for the year.
*Wynne improved to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in AAAA-East conference play with a 16-14, 15-10, 15-1 victory over Vilonia Thursday.
Jessica Stepp had 10 assists and 13 digs; Autumn Campbell eight kills; Jena Gracey seven kills, three solo blocks and nine digs; and Marla Mays six assists and five digs.
Wynne also won the senior B match 15-9, 9-15, 17-15.
The third annual Forrest City Athletic Hall of Fame will be held tonight at the High School Cafeteria, at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $10.
The 2002 Hall of Fame Class includes Ray and Richard Trail, Jim Finch, Maxine Douglass, Stanley Winfrey, Harvey Hampton, Eugene Rooks, Wallace Purifoy and Carter Ray Crawford.
* LOCAL SPORTS
MEN'S FALL SOFTBALL
Thursday's Scores
All Games Were Rained Out
JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL
Thursday, September 19
Cross County 8, Hughes 6
FCity White 24, Jonesboro McArthur 6
Palestine-Wheatley 26, Rector 6
JB Annie Camp 28, Forrest City Blue 6
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Friday, September 20
Osceola at Forrest City
Palestine-Wheatley at Cross County
Hughes at Rector
LR Central at cabot
Jacksonville at Sylvan Hills
Searcy at Russellville
Jonesboro at Greene County Tech
Stuttgart at Marianna
Batesville at Morrilton
Wynne at Newport
Paragould at Trumann
Marion at EPC
Brinkley at Rivercrest
Earle at Marked Tree
Salem at Parkin
Walnut Ridge at Turrell
FLAG FOOTBALL
Monday, September 23
Vikings vs Tigers, 6 p.m. F8
Bears vs Lions, 7 p.m. F8
Razorbacks vs Indians, 8 p.m. F8
YOUTH SOCCER
Tuesday, September 24
Tigers vs Rockets, 9-under, 6 p.m. F4&1
Grizzlies vs Iguanas, 10-13, 6 p.m. F2
Bullets vs Sting, 9-under, 7:15 p.m. F4&1
Flames vs Thrashers, 10-13, 7:15 p.m. F2