01 Jun 2025 501 Hometown Hall of Famers: Harold and Tim Horton

Posted at 6:54 PMh in Sports by

By David Grimes

Harold Horton passed away peacefully at his home on May 3, 2025, at the age of 85. On behalf of David Grimes, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and 501 LIFE Magazine, we thank his family for allowing us to share his story with our readers.

When Harold Horton took the University of Central Arkansas football job in 1982, Conway got one of the great coaches in Bear history. Conway also got his son, Tim, who became one of the great athletes in Wampus Cat history.

Coach Horton’s tenure as Head Football Coach at the University of Central Arkansas will always be remembered as one of the most successful eras in Central Arkansas Football history. The positive impact that he had on his players created bonds that will last a lifetime. Throughout his career, Coach Horton continued to be a great advocate for, friend of the University, and supporter of our athletics program. Harold Horton was a great football coach, but an even better person. – Matt Whiting. Director of Athletics, University of Central Arkansas

Harold was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) in 1989 as part of the 31st class, along with Ken Hatfield, Eddie Miles, Brad Scott, R.H. Sikes, and his high school football coach, Sam Cook.

Tim was enshrined in 2021 as part of the 63rd class, along with Lisa Cornwell, Lance Harter, Joe Johnson, Kevin Kelley, Jesse Mason, Billy Joe Murray, Lawson Pilgrim and Johnny Ray. 

The elder Horton graduated from DeWitt High School in 1957, where he starred as a halfback for the Dragons. He played in the 1957 state high school All-Star football game. 

Harold then played defensive back on some of Frank Broyles’ earliest Arkansas football teams, helping the Hogs win Southwest Conference (SWC) championships in 1959, 1960 and 1961. He served as a team captain that final season. Harold chose coaching as a career, beginning in high school at Bald Knob and Forrest City and later serving on Broyles’ Razorback staff from 1968 to 1980.

In his first season at UCA, his 1982 squad went 4-2-3, but after that, he led the school to the greatest football run in state history. Over the next seven seasons, his teams lost a total of only 10 games while capturing a record seven straight Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference championships from 1983 to 1989. During that time, the Bears rarely lost to an in-state opponent and were consistently ranked high in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) polls, often appearing at No. 1.

The late Harold Horton is known as one of the great coaches in Arkansas History. He was proud when his son, Tim, joined the profession and also became a successful coach. Harold was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, into the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor in 1997, and into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. He passed away May 3rd at age 85.

The Bears made the NAIA playoffs six consecutive years from 1983 to 1988. In 1984, UCA hosted Carson-Newman in the NAIA Champion Bowl. Back then, the NAIA did not have a tie-breaking procedure for the title game, and the teams were all even at the end of regulation at 19-19. Thus, both schools were declared national champions.

UCA again hosted the national title game in 1985 against Hillsdale, and again the game ended in a tie, resulting in another national championship for the Bears. Horton left after the 1989 season with an eight-year record of 74-12-5, seven AIC titles and two national championships.

Harold later returned to Fayetteville, where he joined the staff of the Razorback Foundation. He was inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor in 1997 and the UCA Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

The younger Horton was an All-State tailback at Conway High School (CHS), graduating in 1986. Like his father, Tim was selected to play in the state high school All-Star football game. Tim was also a standout sprinter, setting the school record in the 100-meter dash. He was selected as the Frank E. Robins Award winner as outstanding senior athlete at CHS and was inducted into the Wampus Cat Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. 

Tim followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a Razorback. He was a four-year letterman at wide receiver from 1986-1989, and he too was selected a team captain as a senior. He helped Arkansas win back-to-back SWC championships in 1988 and 1989. 

In 1989, Tim led the team in receptions and receiving yards, earning second-team All-SWC honors. That year, he was named the recipient of the Gordon Campbell Senior Spirit Award. Sure-handed, Tim is fourth in Hog history with 78 career punt returns and fifth with 657 career punt return yards. He was also a two-time academic all-conference selection.

Tim again followed his father’s lead into the coaching profession, starting out at Appalachian State in 1990 before moving on to Air Force then Kansas State. In 2007, he returned to Arkansas, where he served as running backs coach for the Razorbacks until 2012. Tim then went to Auburn, then Vanderbilt, and in 2021 returned to Air Force, where he serves as special teams coordinator and running backs coach.

Tim had this to say about his father’s influence to become a coach: “I have always thought of it as a calling, and one of my greatest joys in life is being a positive influence for young people. I saw my dad do that for a lifetime, and I hope I can do the same.”