Bill Reed is a Lonoke native who attended Texarkana Junior College and Arkansas State Teacher’s College (now the University of Central Arkansas). He received his master’s degree from the University of Mississippi. His career began in 1959 at Marked Tree, and continued through the state with stints at Wilson, Jonesboro, Jacksonville and Texarkana. From there he moved across state lines to James Bowie High School in Simms, Texas, finally ending his career coaching with his son at Bartlett High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Reed’s coaching days accounted for over 250 wins and 21 conference championships in Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee. Through his coaching years, Bill was the recipient of many awards spanning six decades and six classifications. Some are: State Football Champion in 1976, 78, and 81; Coach of the year – 1976, 81, and 83; Lowell Manning Award 1978 and 81; Curt King Award – 1998; AHSCA President – 1976; AHSCA Hall of Fame – 2002; Jacksonville High School Sports Hall of Fame – 2007; and All Star coaching staffs as trainer, assistant, and head coach. Bill coached two “Super Bowl” winners in Dan Hampton of Jacksonville High School and the Chicago Bears and Rod Smith of Texarkana High School and the Denver Broncos; Pole Vault world record holder, Earl Bell, at Jonesboro High School, nine professional football players, and a number of players who played at the college level. He had the privilege of introducing Dan Hampton at the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. As an Athletic Administrator, Bill attended regional meetings and nine National Athletic Directors meetings. He was a charter member of the NIAAA. He was selected Athletic Director of the Year in 1988 and served the organization in every office from program chairman to the presidency. He obtained sponsors for the NIAAA luncheons and provided the national gift from Arkansas at the Las Vegas meeting – an original “Jim Bowie” knife. At Jacksonville High School he took a program that was over $10,000 in debt, to one that was not only successful on the field, but also on sound footing financially (over $20,000 in the black). In Texarkana he renovated five buildings in the athletic complex, doubled the size of the Hardy House, sought and received Wells Fargo Grants, and built a 10 x 12’ sauna, all while maintaining a sound fiscal standing.. Bill and his wife, Kerin, have two sons. Scott and his wife, Connie, live in El Dorado where Scott is the head football coach at El Dorado High School. Mark and his wife, Wendy, live in Texarkana and Mark works for the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana, TX. The Reeds also have five grandsons – Taylor, Dustin, Lucas, Will and A.J. and one granddaughter – Gabby.