March 9, 2000

James Albert “Ike” Tomlinson died. Tomlinson was responsible for the revival of the athletics program at Arkansas State University (ASU) after World War II. An athlete who coached five sports, he served as head baseball coach for thirty-two years, also serving as ASU’s athletic director for three decades. He was named Associated Press National Coach of the Year and was selected for induction into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. In 1993, ASU’s baseball complex was named Tomlinson Stadium in his honor.