The Greers Ferry Lake Area Razorback Club is hosting its 3rd Annual Banquet, featuring legendary Razorback Coach and Athletic Director Frank Broyles, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3 at the Community Center in Heber Springs.
Broyles led the Razorback program as head football coach and later AD from 1957-2007. During that time, he won several conference championships and a national title in 1964. Along with his many winning seasons, Broyles was directly responsible for building one of the most impressive and complete athletic facilities in the nation.
After members meet for roughly 30 minutes and hold an auction with several Arkansas collectors items, including autographed jerseys from quarterback Ryan Mallett and former running back Michael Smith, the coaches will enter around 6 p.m.
Broyles will enter after the rest of the UA entourage, which will include Razorback Foundation President Harold Horton and Chuck Barrett, the voice of the Razorbacks. “We are going to start calling the Hogs when Coach Broyles walks through with a state trooper, just like they do on game day,” said Ricky Davis, Vice-President of Greers Ferry Lake Area Razorback Club. “We want to create a game like atmosphere for him. The Heber Springs cheerleaders will be leading the way as Broyles takes time to visit with people while making his way to the podium.”
The lake area club held its inaugural banquet in 2008 with baseball coach Dave Van Horn serving as the guest speaker. The banquet drew 288 people to the Methodist Church Auditorium, according to Davis. Last year, football Coach Bobby Petrino brought around 588 folks to Hensley’s Catfish Barn. Davis said the club is preparing to serve BBQ to 688 people this year in the Community Center gymnasium.
“We are going to have a full BBQ meal with all the fixings,” said Davis. My goal is to feed 688 people in 15 minutes. It’s key to get the meal in and out so we have as much time with the coaches as possible.”
The GFLA Razorback Club has experienced rapid growth over the past three years, proving valuable to the university and Cleburne County area. “We are the fastest growing Razorback Club in the nation,” said Davis. “We were discouraged when we first approached them about forming a club. They said we had clubs that are close like Mountain View, Batesville and Searcy. After a lot of hounding, they agreed to let us do it and we were immediately successful.
“Once a year they a have a national meeting before a football game where they discuss rules and regulations. Chris Campbell [President of GFLA Razorback Club] and I attended and they told the other groups to get with those guys from Heber if they want to know how to run a banquet,” added Davis.
Davis said Horton and staff stayed on pins and needles leading up to Petrino’s visit last year, but the club rose to the occasion. “Horton called when they left and said, ‘for the first time I can remember Coach Petrino left with a smile on his face.’ They gave us a lot of praise. Now coaches are almost fighting over a chance to come to Heber. Last year, we were the first club to invite tusk. After we did that, everybody wanted him.” Tusk will be back again this time, although it will be a different Russian boar considering his predecessor passed away last year.
The club is reaching out to the smaller towns in the county this year, inviting kids from Greers Ferry and Quitman to be participants in the Burls’ Kids Foundation, which allows youth to attend a Razorback football game free of charge. Each club gets one home game per season to invite 25 kids that have never been to a Razorback game. They are accompanied by five leaders and given $10 to enjoy refreshments.
“To show how high a priority our club has, we got the Alabama game this year,” said Davis. It’s going to be a phenomenal day for these kids and this is all happening because of the way the Greers Ferry Lake area has responded to this club. We want to keep this phenomenon going.”
Tickets are still available for the upcoming banquet. Reserved tables that seat groups of eight are available for $300 and $200, depending on how close to the podium one prefers. Single seat general admission tickets for the tables in the back are $20. Heber Springs Coach Steve Janski and Barrett will serve as MC’s.
To become a member of the Razorback Club or purchase a ticket for the banquet, contact Campbell at (501) 350-2377, Davis at (501) 206-0303 or Bill Lynch at (501) 362-9350. Tickets are also on sale at Sonic and Heber Springs State Bank. Visit the club’s website at www.gflrazorbackclub.com for event updates.
http://www.gflarazorbackclub.com
