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Montgomery County News, Arkansas - MCNews.online

Former Caddo Hills coach to be added to HSU Ring of Honor

ARKADELPHIA, AR — A former Caddo Hills coach is among the nine Reddie greats to be honored this year at the Henderson State Univerisity Hall of Honor Banquet to be held Friday, October 4.

Former Caddo Hills coach Jimmy Reppo will join eight other athletes spanning five sports in the 2019 Hall of Honor class.  The 2019 class includes, from Category I (Football and Men’s Basketball), gridiron legends Sean McGrath and Kevin Rodgers, as well as NAIA basketball standout John Hansen; from Category II (Other Men’s Sports), early 2000s baseball greats Cody Deal and T.J. Hendricks; from Category III (Women’s Sports), women’s golf pioneer Jenna Chadwick-McKiddy and tennis ace Stephanie Devine-Fincher; and from Category IV (Heritage Era), one of the greatest scorers in Henderson basketball history, Jimmy Reppo.

Receiving special recognition as a part of this year’s Hall of Honor class is the late former president of Henderson State University, Dr. Charles Dunn, who will receive the Willie Tate Meritorious Humanitarian Award.

Reppo was a four-year letterman in basketball for Henderson State from 1958 to 1962. A two-time All-AIC selection in 1961 and 1962, Reppo averaged 15.5 points per game in his 71 career contests for the Reddies and is one of just 25 players in program history with over 1000 career points (1102). Reppo led the AIC in scoring during the 1960-61 season with an average of 25.6 points per game, which remains the highest per-game scoring average for a single season in school history. Proficient at getting to the free-throw line, Reppo is the program’s all-time leader in made free throws for a career (418) and in a single season (195). Following his playing career at Henderson and a two-year stint in the military, Reppo went into coaching and spent the remainder of his career coaching high school basketball in Arkansas. His coaching stops included Jessieville, Bradley, Taylor and Caddo Hills.

The ceremony, which will take place on Friday, Oct. 4 in the Garrison Center Grand Ballroom, will kick off with a social hour at 6 p.m., followed by the induction of the 23rd Hall of Honor class at 7 p.m.

Tickets to the event cost $25 and can be purchased through Angie Bradshaw by calling 870-230-5161.

SEAN MCGRATH

One of the most recent Reddies to represent the program at the professional level, Sean McGrath excelled at tight end for Henderson State in 2010 and 2011. A Daktronics First Team All-Region selection in 2010, McGrath was the top tight end in the Gulf South Conference and earned First Team All-GSC honors after catching 55 passes for 659 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 59.6 receiving yards per game. In two years at Henderson, McGrath racked up 61 receptions for 717 yards and four touchdowns. In 2012, McGrath signed a free-agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks and then reached an agreement the following year with Kansas City, where he played in all 16 games and made 26 receptions for 302 yards and two touchdowns in 2013. In 2014, McGrath stepped away from football and returned to Henderson to earn his master’s degree. Following a brief hiatus, he came out of retirement in 2015 and spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions before retiring for the final time in 2018. In his NFL career, McGrath started in 20 games and caught 32 passes for 373 yards and two scores.

KEVIN RODGERS

One of the most heralded players in the history of Reddie football, Kevin Rodgers was a three-time NCAA DII All-American at quarterback for Henderson State from 2011 to 2014. The native of Rockwall, Texas, holds virtually every passing record for the Reddies, is sixth all-time in NCAA DII history with 124 career touchdown passes and fifth all-time with 13,678 career passing yards. His 66.5 percent completion percentage also ranks third in NCAA DII history. In 41 games played, Rodgers averaged 333.6 passing yards per contest — the third-most for any DII player ever. A three-time Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, three-time GAC Offensive Player of the Year and the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America DII Player of the Year, Rodgers became just the sixth DII player in history to pass for over 4000 yards in back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013. Perhaps most importantly, Rodgers’ individual success translated to team success on the field. During his career, Henderson amassed a record of 36-8, won 28-consecutive Great American Conference games, claimed two league titles in 2012 and 2013, and made two appearances in the NCAA DII playoffs. Rodgers is the all-time passing yards and passing touchdowns leader for college football in the state of Arkansas at all levels of competition.

JOHN HANSEN

John Hansen was a standout for some of the best teams in Henderson State basketball history from 1977 to 1981. An All-AIC and All-District 17 selection during the 1980-81 season and a District 17 All-Tournament Team honoree in 1981, Hansen helped lead the Reddies to AIC titles in 1978 and 1979, District 17 championships in 1979 and 1981, and the 1979 NAIA National Championship game. Hansen holds the school record for career assists with 703 — an average of 6.1 per game — and is one of the best Reddies to ever step to the free-throw line, where he shot 81 percent for four seasons. He finished his time at Henderson with 823 points and 214 rebounds in 115 games played, and shot 58 percent from the floor as a senior.

CODY DEAL

One of the best hitters in Henderson State history, Cody Deal was a two-year letter-winner for the Reddies in 2004 and 2005. Deal, along with teammate Jarrod Eason, became Henderson’s first baseball All-American of the NCAA era when he earned Third Team ABCA and Honorable Mention NCBWA All-American honors in 2005. During his scorching 2005 campaign, Deal collected a program-record 83 hits with 23 doubles, racked up 26 multi-hit games, and turned in a batting average of .437, which remains the highest single-season mark by any Reddie in the NCAA era. In just two playing seasons at Henderson, Deal ranks third in program history in career batting average (.372), eighth in RBIs (88), ninth in doubles (31), and ninth in home runs (19).

T.J. HENDRICKS

T.J. Hendricks was a two-time All-Gulf South Conference selection for the Reddies from 1999 to 2003. The lefty pitcher, who was First Team honoree in 2003, compiled an 18-15 record during his career, including a 9-4 mark as a senior in a season where he struck out 80 batters — third-most in HSU history. In 2002, Hendricks led the team with a 2.93 ERA in 60 1/3 innings. His ERA ranked fourth-best in the GSC and 12th overall in the NCAA. Hendricks totaled 288 innings pitched and struck out 196 batters during his career, both of which rank third in Henderson State history. In 2003, he compiled 11 complete games while pitching 90 1/3 innings with 80 strikeouts. In the final start of his career against Ouachita Baptist, Hendricks pitched the seventh no-hitter in school history in an 8-0 victory. Hendricks is third all-time in program history in innings pitched, fourth in strikeouts (196), and seventh in wins (18).

JENNA CHADWICK-MCKIDDY

Jenna Chadwick-McKiddy was a standout golfer for the Reddies from 2007 to 2009 when she was named First Team All-Gulf South Conference in three consecutive years. Chadwick-McKiddy is the only female golfer in program history to earn First Team All-Conference honors three times, and one of just 12 players in GSC history be named to the All-Conference team three or more times. Named the GSC Golfer of the Year and a Women’s Golf Coaches Association Academic All-American in 2008, Chadwick-McKiddy also garnered GSC All-Tournament Team honors that same season after finishing as the individual runner-up at the league championships in Hot Springs. A pioneer for her sport at the university, Chadwick-McKiddy is the first female golfer inducted into the Henderson State Hall of Honor.

STEPHANIE DEVINE-FINCHER

Stephanie Devine-Fincher was a four-year letter winner for the Reddies from 2000 to 2004. A three-time All-Gulf South Conference selection, Devine-Fincher earned Second Team honors her freshman and sophomore seasons playing No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles, before being named to the All-GSC First Team in 2004. As a senior, Devine-Fincher proved to be one of the best players in the league and was named GSC West Division Player of the Year while playing at No. 1 singles for Henderson. Devine-Fincher was the first women’s tennis player to earn Conference Player of the Year honors in program history.

JIMMY REPPO

Jimmy Reppo was a four-year letterman in basketball for Henderson State from 1958 to 1962. A two-time All-AIC selection in 1961 and 1962, Reppo averaged 15.5 points per game in his 71 career contests for the Reddies and is one of just 25 players in program history with over 1000 career points (1102). Reppo led the AIC in scoring during the 1960-61 season with an average of 25.6 points per game, which remains the highest per-game scoring average for a single season in school history. Proficient at getting to the free-throw line, Reppo is the program’s all-time leader in made free throws for a career (418) and in a single season (195). Following his playing career at Henderson and a two-year stint in the military, Reppo went into coaching and spent the remainder of his career coaching high school basketball in Arkansas. His coaching stops included Jessieville, Bradley, Taylor and Caddo Hills.

DR. CHARLES DUNN

Dr. Charles Dunn, who served as President of Henderson State University from 1986 to 2008, is the 2019 winner of the Willie Tate Meritorious Humanitarian award. A fervent supporter of Reddie Athletics during his time as president and until his passing in 2013, Dunn helped lead Henderson State through the transition from NAIA to full NCAA member-status in 1992, which included securing Henderson an invitation to join the Gulf South Conference. Dunn also served on the NCAA President’s Commission during the restructuring of the NCAA in 1996 and 1997, and was a member of the NCAA President’s Council — the governing body of Division II — until 2001. Under Dunn’s watch, Henderson saw some of its biggest athletic triumphs of the NCAA era, including four GSC men’s basketball titles and a berth in the 2004 NCAA Division II Women’s Final Four. A beloved figure in the Henderson State community, Dunn’s tenure as president saw over $80 million go towards building and renovation projects to enhance and improve the university.

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