Beginning January 24th, Milesplit Arkansas will feature one inductee in the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame every week leading up to the 2025 ceremony.
[From the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame]: "The Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame, which began honoring athletes in 1995, is dedicated to recognizing Arkansans whose performances and contributions have distinguished them in the world of track and field. Its stated mission is to 'honor and recognize persons who have made significant contributions to the sports of track and field and cross country in the state of Arkansas; and recognize and encourage Arkansas high school track athletes who have excelled in performance and /or academics."
Ballots for this year's Hall of Fame were due on February 4th. Questions concerning the ATFHOF can be directed to their website here, and tickets for the 2025 banquet can be purchased here. This year's banquet is scheduled for Friday, May 30th.
Today's Hall of Fame Friday features perhaps the most influential individual in the long history of the Central Arkansas track and field program, Richard Martin Jr!
Richard Martin Jr. - Class of 2007
University of Central Arkansas
[Bio from ATFHOF]
Four-year track letterman at UCA. In 1974, ran 220 in 21.5 in AIC championship meet and finished 2nd in 100-yard dash with 9.75. In the 1975 AIC meet won 100-yard dash in 10.0, anchored the 440 relay in a school record 40.9, anchored the mile relay in 3:16.1, and finished 2nd in 220 with 21.7. Won AIC individual high point with 23 points, leading UCA to the AIC championship.In 1975, UCA's mile relay team was 2nd at NAIA national, setting a school record of 3:08.96. Became assistant UCA track coach in 1977 and head UCA track coach from 1982 to present. Teams he coached won five conference championships and he was five-time NAIA District 17 Coach of the Year Area 5, plus five-time AIC Coach of the Year. Coached three national champs 1986-89. Women's cross country championship in 1998 and named Gulf South Coach of the Year.Has coached thirty (30) UCA athletes who have been named All-Americans.
[More from UCA]
In the fall of 1998, Martin's women's cross country team captured the Gulf South Conference title, earning him conference Coach of the Year honors. The title was the first GSC Championship won by a UCA team in any sport. In 2005, the Sugar Bears qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Martin's teams also excelled in the classroom, earning NCAA Division II All-Academic honors by leading the nation with a team GPA of 3.91 in 1996. The following season, the team earned the same award with a team GPA of 3.96.
While leading the UCA track program, Martin won five AIC Championships and was a five-time winner of the NAIA District 17 Coach of the Year award, as well as a five-time AIC Coach of the Year. Martin was also an assistant coach in 1979 when the team won the AIC Championship.
A four-year letterman in both football and track at UCA, Martin earned numerous accolades on the track. He captured AIC Championships in the 200-yard dash (1974), 100-yard dash (1975), the mile relay (1975) and helped set an AIC and UCA record in the 400-yard relay (1975). Martin earned All-American honors in the mile relay when UCA finished second in the NAIA National Championship meet.
Martin earned his B.S.E. in Education from UCA in 1976, and immediately began working as a graduate assistant coach for the football and track teams. The following fall, after earning his M.S.E. in Health Education, he became a full-time assistant in both sports.