Nolan, Harris earn spots in Texas hall

Former University of Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson addresses a gathering during his enshrinement ceremony for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., Friday, Aug. 8, 2014. Richardson led Arkansas to the 1994 National Championship and to three Final Four appearances in 1990. 1994 and 1995. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Former University of Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson addresses a gathering during his enshrinement ceremony for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., Friday, Aug. 8, 2014. Richardson led Arkansas to the 1994 National Championship and to three Final Four appearances in 1990. 1994 and 1995. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

FAYETTEVILLE -- There's a lot of Arkansas in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame induction class for 2015.

The class announced Monday includes Nolan Richardson, who coached the Arkansas Razorbacks to the 1994 NCAA basketball championship and had a 389-169 record in 17 seasons, and Arkansas native Cliff Harris, a star defensive back at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia who during his 10 seasons as a safety for the Dallas Cowboys played in five Super Bowls and was a six-time Pro Bowl selection.

The induction ceremony will be held April 11 in Waco, Texas.

Richardson and Harris have known each other for many years and each said he's happy for the other for the Texas Sports Hall of Fame induction.

"Nolan is a good guy and a great coach," Harris said. "I'm proud to go in with him."

This is the third Hall of Fame honor for Richardson, 73, in the past year, along with being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame. He's also in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the UA Sports Hall of Honor and the College Basketball Hall of Fame, as well as several halls of fame representing his hometown of El Paso, Texas; his alma mater, Texas-El Paso; and Tulsa University, which he coached to the 1981 NIT championships.

"I think I'm in 12 Halls of Fame in all," Richardson said. "It's always a beautiful thing."

Richardson said he's had a lot of people ask him over the years why he wasn't in the Texas Hall of Fame.

"I don't worry about why it took so long," Richardson said. "The nicest part is that I'm alive and able to enjoy this honor with my family."

Harris was born in Fayetteville, but said he spent most of his time in Arkansas living in Hot Springs before moving to Des Arc for his senior year of high school. At Des Arc, he started at quarterback and earned a scholarship to OBU.

"My junior year at Hot Springs High School, I played on the junior varsity team," Harris said. "I don't think my buddies would have voted me as the player most likely to play in college, much less play in five Super Bowls and go into the Texas Hall of Fame."

Harris has been inducted into the Cowboys' Ring of Honor and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame as well the NAIA and OBU halls of fame.

In the past two years, he's seen the formation of the Cliff Harris Award -- which honors the top college defensive player at the NCAA Division II and III and NAIA levels -- and had OBU name its stadium in his honor.

"So many honors have come my way recently," Harris said. "I feel like I'm a very blessed guy."

Harris lives in Dallas and works in the energy business, but makes frequent visits to Arkansas.

"I'm very proud of my Arkansas roots," he said. "I'll always be an Arkansan at heart."

Sports on 01/20/2015

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