The 2026 JPSHOF Induction Banquet will be held in the Family Life Center of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, located at 500 South Cooper Street. The gala event will begin at 5:00 pm with a “meet and greet” social hour, followed by the Induction program and dinner, where five local legends will be enshrined as the “Class of 2026” and another will receive the prestigious Meritorious Service Award.
The Class of 2026 includes Lowell Mize (JHHS football), Shelby Green (Quitman High boys basketball), Steve Treadway (JHHS football), and Joey Pender (JHHS coach). Bill DeCou (Rundell Junior High Coach) will be honored with the Outstanding Meritorious Award. Cynthia Loyd Stampley was also selected for induction as a member of the “Class of 2026,” but because she had hip replacement surgery last week, she will now be enshrined next year.
Also being recognized as the 2025-26 High School Male and Female Athletes of the Year are:
Dakota Knox and Ciara Gray of Jonesboro-Hodge High School
Brayden Smith and Maggie Guyotte of Quitman High School
Livi Otwell and Drew Browning of Weston High School.
Seats for the ceremony and dinner are now being reserved for $25.00 per person and $225.00 for a table of eight. Reserved tables for induction members are $200.00. To make your reservation, contact Harrell Bond at (318) 243-5266 or Wilda Smith at (318) 426 – 6511. You can also email wsmithcoc@aol.com. Reservations will be taken until noon on Friday, October 2nd. Payments can be made at the door or by mailing a check or money order to:
Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame
c/o Wilda Smith
PO Box 192
Jonesboro, LA 71251
The Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame was created from a vision held by Mr. Henry Kimp of a venue to recognize athletes, coaches, and administrators who have lived or worked in Jackson Parish and who have made a great impact in the arena of sports. In 2008, the first meeting of a loosely formed board of Henry Kimp, Bobby Culpepper, Leslie Thompson, Nathaniel Belton, and Raymond Jeffress took place and declared that the primary function of the Hall of Fame would be to create a venue of outstanding individuals and their accomplishments so that future generations would know more about the tremendous history of athletics in Jackson Parish and the people who helped make it great.
In 2009, the inaugural induction ceremony took place with John Garlington, Bob Hopkins, Jo Ann Jackson-Buckner, Dr. Arnold Kilpatrick, and Edgar Walker being the first class to be enshrined. With the inclusion of this year’s class, the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame will now boast 88 inductees and seven Meritorious Award winners.
To learn more about the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame and the ones enshrined, click here or visit https://www.jpsportshalloffame.com/