Van Buren High School Hall of Honor to induct five honorees November 1

The Van Buren High School Hall of Honor will induct five new members for 2018: Dan Ballard, Quince Coleman, Sharon Glass Daniels, Mary Beth Duncan, and Charles Martin.

Dan R. Ballard, a 1964 VBHS graduate, has been selected for outstanding post high school achievement. Ballard enjoyed a long, prestigious career in electronics and computer engineering and remains active in the field following his retirement. He is the chief engineer for Fauxsee Innovations based in Magnolia, Arkansas. After graduating from VBHS, Ballard earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Arkansas. He later founded and led three successful high-technology ventures and was awarded three scientifically peer-reviewed research projects from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He has also achieved the highest non-management position of Member of Technical Staff at both Motorola and SAIC.  In addition to exemplary work in the technology field, he has taught, published, and holds numerous industry patents.

Quince Coleman, who devoted 35 years as an educator in the Van Buren School District, has been selected for his service to VBSD as a coach and staff member. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in education from the University of Central Arkansas. Coleman was head basketball coach at Van Buren High School from 1978 to 1994. During that time, he led his teams to six conference championships, seven district titles, and five Crawford County Tournament wins. His teams competed in four Arkansas State Tournaments, and in 1981, the Pointers were runners-up for the State Championship. Coleman was named Conference Coach of the Year four times and was an assistant coach for the Arkansas All-Star game. His teams collected a total of 252 wins during his career and had a 35-1 conference record from 1979 to 1981. Coleman also served as an assistant baseball coach for more than a decade and was an assistant football coach from 1978 to 2004. He was defensive back coach for the 1996 state championship team. Coleman taught many subjects during his tenure, including health, United States History, World History, Government, Arkansas History, and physical education. Now retired, Coleman volunteers as an usher at First Baptist Church in Van Buren, where has been an active member for more than 40 years.

Sharon Glass Daniels, a 1968 Van Buren High School graduate, has been selected for outstanding civic achievements. Daniels attended Westark Community College and worked as a financial aid specialist for the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. During her career, she was a strong advocate for students, helping many find resources to continue their education. She has also been a tireless community volunteer, coordinating entertainment activities for the Old Fort Days Rodeo and the Miss Westark College Pageant. She and her husband, Mike endowed a scholarship for future UAFS basketball players and contributed funds to renovate the men’s locker room at UAFS. The couple has been honored twice by the City of Fort Smith with Mayoral proclamations of “Mike & Sharon Daniels Day.” Daniels also remains an active VBHS alumni and serves as a coordinator of class events.

Mary Beth Stevenson Duncan, a 1975 Van Buren High School graduate, has been selected for outstanding contributions as a VBSD staff member. Duncan retired after 35 years as a history and social sciences educator in Van Buren. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Arkansas and is a certified Gifted and Talented instructor through Arkansas Tech University. During her more than three decade tenure at Van Buren, she was a strong advocate for educational enrichment and high standards.  Duncan started the Advanced Placement (AP) European and World History courses at VBHS. She coached the U.S. Academic Decathlon team for Van Buren, served as an AP delegate, Quiz Bowl coach, State History Day sponsor, National Honor Society sponsor, Model UN sponsor and State History Day judge. From 1985 to 2008, she served as a Cultural Heritage Alliance European group tour leader. Duncan was a consistent Top 40 educator at VBHS, being selected as one of the most influential teachers by the top forty students in senior class rank. For 2005-06, she was named the Van Buren High School Teacher of the Year, as well as the Van Buren School District’s Linda May Secondary Teacher of the Year. She was also selected as the Arkansas Secondary Social Studies Teacher of the Year for 2013-2014, adding to her long list of educational accolades.

Charles E. Martin, a 1969 Van Buren High School graduate, has been selected for outstanding post high school achievements. Martin’s leadership abilities were evident in high school, where he served as president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, and lettered in both basketball and football. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Arkansas before entering the military. From 1974 to 1979, he served in the United States Army as an engineer, achieving the rank of captain. He attended Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia and was awarded the Airborne Ranger Medal. Martin worked as an engineer in the Tulsa region for more than twenty years prior to his death. In addition to his distinguished career, he was an active leader in the Boy Scouts of America and served as a pack and troop leader.  His scouting leadership benefited many youth, including his three sons, who each earned the prestigious Eagle Scout ranking. Martin served on the Board of Directors for the Finance Committee of Bishop Kelly High School, where he helped raise more than $320,000 for the school’s sports complex. He was also an active member of the Saint Mary Catholic Church in Tulsa.

The Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2018 will be held on November 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the Van Buren High School Commons Area, located at 2001 Pointer Trail. A reception for the honorees will begin earlier that night at 6 p.m.  Inductees will also be recognized during halftime of the Pointer football game on November 2 at Blakemore Field.

Tickets for the Hall of Honor Ceremony are $10. They can be pre-ordered by calling 479-474-7942 or via email at dcone@vbsd.us.