Ebbs selected to Hall of Fame

Former Blytheville High School boys basketball coach Danny Ebbs has been selected to the Hall of Fame.

The three Hall of Fame organizations under the umbrella of the Arkansas Activities Association have selected their honorees for the 2020 induction ceremony. The Hall of Fame for the Arkansas High School Coaches Association and the Arkansas Officials Association was formed in 1995. The Arkansas High School Athletic Administrators Association began its Hall honors in 2007. The three organizations combined into one Hall of Fame in 2013.

The Hall of Fame selections were released by the executive committees of each organization.

Mike Malham of Cabot (football), Ebbs of Blytheville, Parkdale, Stephens (basketball), Carl Ramsey of Lamar (basketball), Buzz Bolding of Conway, (football), John McMurry of Monticello, Hamburg (football) and Gary Don Smith of Hot Springs Lakeside (basketball, golf).

Behind outstanding defense, the Chicks were one of the top teams in the state year in and year out under Ebbs who coached the team from 1984-1990.

In 1989, Blytheville was the top team, winning the overall state championship, along with the Class 4A state title. The Chicks finished 30-3 overall that year, including a perfect run through the conference.

The Chicks also won the 1986 state championship in their class.

Ebbs left Blytheville after the 1990 season to become the head coach at Henderson State University, and he remained there for two years before working for various public schools in Arkansas for another 20 years. He later became the athletic director for all Pulaski County Schools, which includes Sylvan Hills, Maumelle and J.T. Robinson high schools as well as Mills University Studies.

“I think it’s way overdue,” said former Blytheville coach and athletic director David Hixson, who assisted Ebbs on those championship teams. “What a huge honor for Coach Ebbs to be selected to the Hall of Fame. Well-deserved.”

Hixson said he learned a lot from Ebbs who was willing to give him responsiblities as an assistant coach that helped shape his 35-year career at Blytheville, which included numerous titles, including a state championship in 2006.

Blytheville City Councilman John Musgraves played for Ebbs during the succussful run.

“Coach Ebbs was the best coach I've ever played for,” Musgraves said. “He knew exactly how to get the best out of a player, not to mention being a great motivator. He has proven himself on different levels of the game of basketball. He was a great coach. In 1986 we won several tournaments, Classic, and a state championship. In 1987, it was almost a repeat of ‘86. We won several tournaments, Classic and were state runner- ups. We had one the smallest teams in the state that year. To this day, l sometimes go back and ask myself; how did we win those games. All l could say, we had one helluva coach with a plan. This is a well-deserved honor, Coach Danny Ebbs, and l'm glad to have had the privilege and it was an honor to play for him. Congratulations, Coach.”

Blytheville superintendent Bobby Ashley also congratulated Ebbs.

“I think Coach Danny Ebbs making the Hall of Fame is very fitting,” Ashley said. “Danny has had a long and successful career in basketball. Winning a state championship at one school is difficult enough but to do it at two different schools multiple times shows that he had the ability to get his kids to compete at high levels. I’m proud of Coach Ebbs, and he’s been a longtime friend. His success at Blytheville is still talked about around the state. “

The six new members of the AOA are Gerald Jones of Sherwood, Jim McGee of North Little Rock, Huey Pugh of Maumelle, Grayling Wheeler of Searcy, Mike Willyerd of Leachville, and Robert Yelder of Jacksonville.

The three new members of the AHSAAA are Annette Scogin of Springdale, Rodney Echols of Forrest City, and Janet Wood of Mountain Home.

The installation banquet will be held on Friday, July 10, 2020, at Horner Hall in the Hot Spring Convention Center starting at 6:30 p.m. For ticket information contact Nicole Cunningham at 501-955-2500.