The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith athletic department is now accepting nominations for its 2011 Lions Hall of Fame class.

Induction into the Lions Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the athletic department.  The Lions Hall of Fame honors former student-athletes, coaches and friends of the athletic department.  All nominees to the Lions Hall of Fame must be individuals of outstanding quality, high moral character and fine leadership qualities and must be held in high esteem by their colleagues, coaches and athletes.

All nominations must fit the criteria of one of the three categories – player, coach or friend of the program. All nominations must include detailed supporting information, which could include newspaper clippings, proof of awards, letters of support from others, etc.  If assistance is needed in compiling information about a nominee’s career, the person making the nomination should contact UA Fort Smith sports information director Jonathan W. Gipson before the nomination is submitted.

Nomination forms, along with criteria for nomination, are available on-line at www.uafortsmithlions.com under the “Hall of Fame” heading. Nominations for the 2011 Lions Hall of Fame class must be received by noon on October 18. Once the deadline has passed, the nine-member selection committee, which is made up of athletic department staff, UA Fort Smith faculty and staff and UA Fort Smith alumni, will review the nominees and make its selections.

The Lions Hall of Fame induction banquet will be held on Friday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. at the Old UA Fort Smith Fieldhouse.

This past February, the athletic department inducted its first Hall of Fame class, which included former players Clair Bates, Ron Brewer and Kim Williams; former administrator/coach Shelby Breedlove; and former coaches Bill Crowder, Jimmy Charles and Gayle Kaundart.

For more information about the Lions Hall of Fame, contact athletic director Dustin Smith at (479) 788-7591 or via e-mail at dusmith@uafortsmith.edu or sports information director Jonathan W. Gipson at (479) 788-7683 or via e-mail at jgipson@uafortsmith.edu.