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PICTURED: Left to Right, Front Row: Wayne Thompson, Tom Kennedy, Buddy Roberts, Gary Weed, Orville Adair, Jim Golden, Jimmy Jones. Second row: Luke Hudman, Mike Hamer, Brown Hardman, Charles Montgomery, Russell Cerrato, Charles Gibbs, Ronald Calvert. Third row: Gerald Entrop, Buddy Harp, Junior Nichols, Maurice Pearson, Joe Branch, Garnett Norwood. Fourth row: Freddie Glaze, Buddy Formby, Ray Tucker, Bill Canada, Johnny Hill, Wayland Lovell, John Goggans, Rex Fore, Carter Ashcraft, Joe Hart, Jerome Wesson, Charles Staggs, Joe Don Willis. Sixth row: Don Hubbard, Lloyd Gardner, Tad Krug, Jim Bivens, Charles Donaldson, Phil Jones.
The 1959 Henderson State under legendary coach Duke Wells won the AIC title with a 5-0-1 record and a 6-2-1 record overall. The Reddies outscored AIC opponents 82 to 31.
Henderson had six First-Team All-AIC selections including Gary Weed, Joe Hart, Jerome Wesson, Charlie Staggs, Jim Golden and NAIA All-American Charlie Donaldson. All six players are current members of the Reddie Hall of Honor.
Henderson finished ranked fifth nationally defensively and no. 2 in passing defense.
Henderson’s first AIC win of the season came against Ozarks as the Reddies won 8-0.
Leading 2-0 after a fourth quarter safety, Don Hubbard scored the games’ only touchdown late in the game.
Henderson would then shutout Millsaps 9-0 with the help of a 3-yard touchdown by Buddy Roberts.
The following week in Magnolia, The Reddies upset Southern State (SAU) 7-6. Henderson would score late in the game on a Hubbard touchdown while Gary Weed provided the Reddies’ the winning extra-point.
Henderson would then celebrate Homecoming with a 25-6 victory over Hendrix. The Warriors took an early 6-0 lead, but the Reddies scored 25 unanswered points. John Goggans scored a pair of touchdowns, with Freddie Glaze adding a second half touchdown run. The final score came on a Hubbard pass to Mike Hammer with 25 seconds left in the game.
The Reddies avenged a loss from a year ago besting Defending Champion Arkansas A&M (UAM) the following week, shutting out the Weevils 21-0.
Charlie Gibbs got things started with a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter. John Goggans added a 1-yard score, then Tad Krug intercepted a pass and raced 46-yards to pay dirt for the final score.
In the battle of the preseason favorites, Henderson slipped past Arkansas Tech 14-12.
Henderson’s first score came on a Wayne Thompson Scoop and Score from 25 yards out. The winning score was set up by a special teams play as Tech’s punter was nailed at the two yard line. Charlie Gibbs would score on the very next play.
The final game of the season was between the Reddies and UCA (Then Arkansas State Teachers College). Both were tied for the conference lead with game being a winner take all battle.
Some 7000 fans watched perhaps one of the greatest games played between the two schools at Haygood Stadium.
With UCA leading 7-0 midway through the 4th quarter, Jim Bivens provided what may have been the tackle of the year as he lowered the boom on a would-be Bear receiver after a punt. The receiver fumbled the ball and Wayne Warr was there to recover the loose pig skin.
Don Hubbard scored on a 1-yard run, with Gary Weed again coming through with the magic toe to tie the score at 7-7. The game would end in a tie and the two teams would share the title.
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