The family of Tommy Matthews of Maumelle created an endowed scholarship at the University of Arkansas at Monticello to honor the man who has operated the scoreboard at UAM football and basketball games for almost half a century.

   The Tommy Matthews Athletic Scholarship will be presented annually to a first-time freshman who graduated from either Monticello or Drew Central High School and is participating in intercollegiate athletics at UAM. The scholarship may be renewed for up to three additional years by maintaining a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on 24 credit hours per academic year.

   The scholarship was created with a $15,000 gift from Tommy and Pat Matthews of Maumelle, Bynum Matthews of Maumelle and Ann Matthews Jones of St. Mary’s, Georgia.

   “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of being recognized in this way than Tommy Matthews,” Chancellor Jack Lassiter said. “He is a great friend of this institution and a part of our history. I can’t imagine coming to a UAM football or basketball game and not seeing Tommy.”

   The UAM Sports Hall of Fame honored Matthews in October as the second recipient of the UAM Athletic Spirit Award. Matthews was an All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference tennis player at what was then Arkansas A&M College before graduating from the school in 1958. He has operated the scoreboards at Willis “Convoy” Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium and Steelman Fieldhouse with few interruptions since his graduation.

   Matthews had a distinguished career as a public school administrator before his retirement.

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