Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will welcome the university’s seventh class into the Ouachita Athletic Hall of Fame during an induction luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 11:30 a.m. in Walker Conference Center on the Ouachita campus.

The 2010 class includes five athletes and one team, adding to the current 36-member Hall of Fame which was established in 2003. Former Ouachita athletes who make up the new class include Jim Boyette, Lance Cansdale, Steve Halter, Bill Vining, Jr., Kathy Hobbs Williams and the 1975 Tiger Football Team.

1975 Tiger Football Team. The 1975 Tigers compiled a 9-2 record, including a 21-20 come-from-behind victory over Henderson State University in the final game of the regular season. The team won the AIC championship and earned a berth in the NAIA playoffs, finishing 4^th in the nation in the final NAIA football poll.

Jim Boyette, a native of Camden, was All-State as a football player at Fairview High School. As a Ouachita Tiger, he excelled in both football and baseball, starting every game his entire career in both sports and achieving All-AIC recognition in both sports his senior year. Boyette played on four AIC champion baseball teams, three of which went on to win the NAIA District 17 championship. He was the football team captain in 1970 as the Tigers won the AIC Championship. He was also selected the Outstanding Male Athlete at Ouachita Baptist University his senior year.

Lance Cansdale, a native of Vancouver, Canada, was a two-time All-America selection while competing as a Tiger swimmer. Cansdale was instrumental in leading the Tigers to their first-ever AIC championship in swimming. At one time he held 12 pool records and was Ouachita’s first individual national champion in the 1,650 freestyle. Cansdale has had great success in coaching swimming, being named NAIA Coach of the Year in 1991 at Simon Fraser University and leading his women’s team to a national championship. He continues to work in Canada directing club swimming for the entire country.

Steve Halter played high school football in DeQueen and earned All-State honors. As a football player for the Tigers, he started all four years at linebacker, leading the team in tackles over a four-year period. Halter was named captain his senior year and received All-AIC recognition both his junior and senior years. As a senior, he also was named to the NAIA All-America team. Halter also was a standout for the Ouachita tennis team.

Bill Vining, Jr. excelled in both basketball and football as an athlete. While at Arkadelphia High School, Vining was All-State in both sports. He started his last two and one half seasons at Ouachita for his father, Bill Vining, Sr., on the basketball team where he was honorable mention All-AIC for two years. Vining played football his last two years in college, leading the AIC in passing in 1974 and 1975 and earning All-AIC honors both years.

Kathy Hobbs Williams was a three-sport athlete while attending Stuttgart High School. She earned All-State recognition in basketball, volleyball and track and field. As a Ouachita Tigerette, she was All-AWISA in basketball and volleyball. In 1973 she was invited to try out for the National AWISA team that would tour and play against the Soviet Union team during its U.S. tour. She made it to the final cut, which was a significant accomplishment for her.

Ouachita alumnus and current Tiger football play-by-play voice Rex Nelson will serve as master of ceremonies for the induction luncheon. Tickets for the luncheon are $25 per person and can be purchased or reserved by calling 870-245-5397. There also will be a limited number of tickets available at the door.