At halftime of the 2012 Salt Bowl on Friday night at War Memorial Stadium, Bob Padgett,[more] currently the head of maintenance for the Bryant School District, was honored with the Community Support Award. Here is the tribute to him that was announced by former Arkansas House Speaker Shane Broadway:
"Good Evening Salt Bowl Fans
"The Rob Patrick Community Support Award was designed to be given to a person that goes above and beyond the call of duty to support the many different athletic programs that are offered through the Bryant School District. This year, we have selected a person that has been involved with Bryant athletics since the first high school gym was built back in 1949. As a matter of fact this gentleman has been a supporter of the Bryant Athletic Programs since the first team ever competed. He has been involved supporting the Bryant School District for 57 years.
"He started school in Bryant in 1948 as a seventh grader and, during this year, he witnessed the construction of building 4 which is used as a practice gym for many of the Bryant sports.
"He graduated from Bryant in 1955 but only to come back and serve on the school board in every capacity for 15 years. During his years as a board member he supported the expansion of the Bryant Athletic Department by supporting the addition of various teams, by supporting the hiring of coaches, and, more importantly, by being at the events and supporting the athletes.
"He has had three daughters that graduated from Bryant High and six grandsons graduate and participated in sports. He has always been a supporter of all the athletes and different organizations that Bryant has offered over the years. After leaving the service as a board member, he returned to Bryant Schools to serve the school as an employee, as the head of the maintenance department.
"This gentleman known to his family and friends as “Big Daddy” and to all others over Saline County as Mr. Bob Padgett, supports all the Bryant Athletic Programs and their athletes by being the first one to step up and do whatever is needed to give the athletes the safest and best facilities in the state. Mr. Padgett is the first one to examine the athletic venues to inspect them to make sure that our athletes get the best the school can offer. He loves to watch the athletes compete as Bryant Hornets.
"To demonstrate how much he loves to watch the athletes compete, after the Labor Day weekend game, he left for his annual trout fishing trip but, as usual, he will not leave until the last second is off the clock.
"At this time it is my pleasure to present this Rob Patrick Award, to a gentleman that is a man of integrity, filled with a love for Bryant students and the school, and has supported Bryant athletics for 57 years, Mr. Bob Padgett."
