Eight individuals will be inducted into the newly created Arkansas State University Press Box Wall of Honor, which recognizes university employees, sports media and volunteers who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to the Athletics Department or work covering A-State Athletics.
The inaugural honorees collectively represent 170 years of service to Arkansas State as an employee or to A-State fans through media coverage. They include:
• Charles Cromwell of Atlanta, who was sports editor and columnist at the Jonesboro Sun for 15 Years;
• Keith Merritt of Jonesboro, who was an A-State radio play-by-play commentator for 15 years, including 10 as the Voice of the Indians;
• Collin Pillow of Jonesboro, who as a faculty member in the School of Media and Journalism was producer of the ASU-TV sports broadcasts for 18 years;
• Charles Rasberry of Jonesboro, who taught in the Department of Journalism and managed KASU when he founded the Indian Sports Network in 1961 and oversaw radio broadcasts of A-State Athletics for 27 Years; and
• Jerry Schaeffer of Ormond Beach, Fla., who worked in the A-State Sports Information Office for 20 years as director and assistant athletics director for media relations.
The honorees inducted posthumously include:
• Gina Bowman, who worked in the A-State Sports Information Office as assistant director, director, assistant athletics director for media relations and senior woman administrator for athletics for 32 years;
• Dick Clay, who was sports director at KAIT-TV in Jonesboro for 28 years; and
• Bill Keedy, who was radio color analyst for football on the East Arkansas Broadcasters Red Wolves Sports Network for 15 years.
“These honorees had an extraordinary impact on A-State Athletics, and we’re excited to honor them in this special way,” said Jeff Purinton, A-State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics. “The former university staff members and faculty members initiated a number of ‘firsts’ for athletics during their careers. The media honorees are remembered by generations of Red Wolves fans and ultimately helped raise interest in A-State sports and student-athletes.”
An induction ceremony with the unveiling of a recognition wall in the Centennial Bank Stadium press box was held on Oct. 26, and a reception for the honorees sponsored by KAIT8 was held at the Cooper Alumni Center.
The events will also celebrate creation of the Gina Bowman-Jerry Schaeffer Scholarship Fund to support scholarships for student assistants in the A-State Sports Information Office. Contributions may be made online at https://www.astate.edu/a/advancement/give-now/#state. Please designate “Other” and specify Bowman Schaeffer Scholarship Fund. Gifts may also be mailed to Bowman Schaeffer Scholarship, Arkansas State University, P.O. Box 1990, State University, AR 72467.
Select each honoree for additional information:
