(Article courtesy of Hendrix College Communications)

CONWAY, Ark. - The Hendrix College intercollegiate football field at Young-Wise Memorial Stadium will be named Crafton-Faulkner Field in honor and memory of Hendrix alumni and former student-athletes Leo "Hippo" Crafton Jr. '49 and Winston Faulkner '48.

The newly named and re-turfed field was made possible by a gift from Rush and Linda Harding of Little Rock. 



"Linda and I are so pleased to honor Mr. Crafton and Mr. Faulkner with this naming gift," said Harding. "The Crafton and the Faulkner families have been instrumental in my development as a businessman and a member of the central Arkansas and Hendrix community."

A Conway native, Crafton, who passed away in 2000, was a World War II veteran and served as an Army Air Corporal. He was the longtime owner of United Motor Co. in Conway, a member of First Baptist Church, the Noon Rotary Club, a Mason and a University of Central Arkansas Bear Backer.

"Our family is truly overwhelmed with gratitude for the generous gift from the Rush Harding family. Rush and his family have been special friends of our family for many decades," said Hal Crafton, Hippo Crafton's son. "We also wish to thank Hendrix College for allowing this honor. My father would be proud and especially honored to share the field name with his great friend and teammate Winston 'Preacher' Faulkner."

The son of a Methodist minister, Faulkner graduated from Dardanelle High School and served in the United States Navy in the South Pacific Theater. At Hendrix, he earned all-conference football honors, served as student body president, and was named Outstanding Alumnus in 1974. He coached at Pulaski Heights Junior High School and Little Rock Central High School, served as First United Methodist Church in Little Rock's activities director, and worked for TJ Raney & Sons (later Morgan Keegan) and Crews & Associates. Faulkner passed away in 2014.

"Our family is so deeply honored by Rush and Linda's gift. Winston and I have always considered them as part of our family. We have watched them and their children grow up to become outstanding leaders in the church, the business world, our community, and our state. We are so proud of them," said Martha Faulkner, Winston's wife. "This is a tremendous tribute to Winston and Hippo. Never in his wildest imagination would Winston have seen something so special happening. He would be so grateful."

The new field will be formally recognized at the first home game on Saturday, Sept. 12, when Hendrix plays Lyon College, a new National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member football program. Hendrix, a member of the NCAA Division III (non-scholarship) Southern Athletic Association conference, re-launched football in fall 2013 after a 53-year time-out.

"The naming of Crafton-Faulkner Field connects the experience of our scholar-athletes with the legacy of two very special Hendrix graduates and community leaders," W. Ellis Arnold III '79, Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Dean of Advancement. "We are deeply grateful to the Harding family for their generous support and for their tribute to the Crafton and Faulkner families."