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The purpose of the Van Buren High School Hall of Honor is threefold. First, to recognize and honor the great students and other individuals who have brought Honor to Van Buren High School (VBHS); second, to establish in the hearts of our Van Buren youth a motivating influence to excel; and third, to foster pride, preserve good sportsmanship, scholarship, and citizenship in our school, city, and community.
Van Buren High School Hall of Honor is a memorial to the outstanding students and other individuals who, through their achievements and or athletic endeavors, have brought honor to themselves, their school, and the community of Van Buren.

Candidates for membership in the Van Buren High School Hall of Honor shall be former Van Buren High School students and/or personnel who meet the requirements set forth in the constitution. Candidates must receive a two-thirds majority vote from the Van Buren High School Hall of Honor Board of Directors.

  • Academic — All men and women who were outstanding scholars, were on the honor roll after eight semesters, and brought Honor to VBHS by their outstanding post high school academic and/or professional careers.
  • Contributions — All men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the athletic programs at Van Buren High School.
  • State Champions — Individual and team State Champions from any sport. Candidates shall become eligible for induction five (5) years after graduation.
  • All State — Individuals who have been selected to any recognized All State Team. Candidates shall become eligible for induction five (5) years after graduation.
  • Memorial Award — All men and women who earned varsity athletic monograms during high school and, after high school, brought honor to Van Buren High School by their outstanding civic achievement or post high school athletic careers.
  • Distinguished Service — All men and women who have contributed meritorious service to VBSD.
Hall of honor ceremony
Holly Brown Hall of honor ceremony

VBSD Hall of Honor

Iverson Riggs

Iverson Riggs 

Education:

  • Van Buren High School Graduate, 1935
  • Attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism
  • Served in the US Army during World War II

Career:

  • Publisher of The Van Buren Shopping News in 1954, which later became the Crawford County Courier
  • Sports Editor for the Courier until his death
  • Reporter of Pointer sports since 1954

Civic Activities

  • Sponsor/Manager of the Courier American Legion Baseball team and coached the team for several years
  • Play-by-play announcer for the VBHS basketball games and football games
  • Founder and Charter member of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce
  • Member of the Board of Directors for the Van Buren Boys Club
  • Member of the Van Buren City Council
  • Member of the Van Buren School Board and instrumental in the effort to see Coach Clair Bates in the Arkansas Hall of Fame

Honors:

  • Chamber of Commerce, “Man of the Year”
  • The Crawford County Basketball Tournament named in his honor
  • The Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” is named in his honor
  • The Field of Dreams is named in his honor
  • The Blakemore Field Press Box is named in his honor
J.J. Izard

J. J. Izard 

Civic Activities

  • Served on the Van Buren School Board for 46 years, 44 years as President
  • Charter member of the Van Buren Lion’s Club
  • President of the Rotary Club and attendee of 1200 consecutive meetings
  • Member of the Van Buren First Baptist Church from 1901-1976
  • Served as Secretary of Deacons and Church Treasurer for 55 years
  • Sunday School Superintendent from 1904-1976
  • Supported all Van Buren Athletic Programs

Career:

  • Bookkeeper and sales clerk in a mercantile store in Van Buren
  • President of the People’s Bank from 1920-1976

Honors:

  • For his 75 years of service to First Baptist Church, a new complex of the church was named “J.J. Izard Fellowship Hall”
  • J.J. Izard Elementary School was named in his honor
Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford 

Education:

  • Van Buren High School Graduate, 1955
  • All-State Basketball player and Captain in 1953, 1954 and 1955
  • State Championship Team in 1953, 1954 and 1955
  • Scholarship to Clarendon Junior College in Texas, 1957

College Career:

  • All-American at Clarendon Junior College
  • Joined Women’s Amateur Basketball Power Nashville BC in Tennessee
  • Won 10 AAU National Championships and was named All-American each year
  • Selected as Most Valuable Player from 1962-64 in the National Tournament

Pan-Am Games:

  • Joined several U.S. International teams, where she led the U.S. to Gold Medals in the Pan-Am games in 1959 and 1963.
  • She was the leading scorer, averaging 16.3 points per game

Awards and Honors:

  • Selected to the AAU Hall of Fame in 1966
  • Selected to the Helms Hall of Fame in 1967
  • Selected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1978
  • Selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997