Birth date: Nov 14, 1939 Death date: May 3, 2025
Coach Harold Wynn Horton, 85 of Fayetteville, AR passed peacefully at his home on May 3, 2025. He was born November 14, 1939 in DeWitt, AR to William Edward Horton and Lucile (Marshall) Horton. Horton graduated from DeWitt, Arkans Read Obituary
I was a walk-on football player at Arkansas in 1974-1975. Coach Horton gave me my best chance to make the team by serving as his running back "target" in his linebacker drills. I will always remember when he pointed to me during the first team defense drills and said " he'll do the job for you" when Coach Pat Jones was looking for running backs to test the defense. While my aspirations for playing running back at 164 lbs didn't pan out. I will always remember Coach Horton giving me my chance.
Tom Wilmoth
I’ve known who Harold was for years because his family & my mother were both from DeWitt. Then, after Cindy & I moved up to Fayetteville from El Dorado, I got to know him much better. as we would share rides down to N. Little Rock for the directors meetings as members of the board of directors on the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Some of the stories he would tell were just priceless & could fill up a book with them.
Harold & his son Tim were a rare father & son inductees into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
My thoughts & prayers are with Mrs. Betty, Tim, & the rest of the Horton family.
Harold will be missed by all who knew him…..!!
David Alphin
Fayetteville, AR
Dear Family,
I'm so very sorry for your loss. Coach Horton was a genuinely decent man, through and through.
I met him when I was a sportswriter for The Arkansas Traveler and The Arkansas Democrat. He recognized my nervousness and always settled my jitters with his warm smile and welcoming handshake. When I returned to Fayetteville 25 years later and joined the journalism faculty, Coach Horton's smile and handshake were as sincere as ever.
He was a great guy, but I'm not telling you anything you don't know. We all will miss him tremendously.
Sincerely,
Gerald Jordan
Coach Horton was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend as well as an outstanding coach. He impacted the lives of so many including the countless players he coached. We were better players and more importantly, better men because of him.
Bobby Field
Coach conspired with my brother who was a hog in in the late 70s to bring me to UCA in the spring of 83 after I dropped out at Ok state
When I showed up he was shocked at how fat and out of shape I was because he knew me as player he recruited for Arkansas yet he pushed me to be a better person he was a roll model ,my life did a upward turn at a time shortly after my fathers passing when he allowed me to be a part of his family
Great coach, great human being, great motivator, fun to play for. We will all miss this great man but heaven received a good un! He talked me into coming back for my senior season at UCA in'82. I certainly don't regret that because he made playing football fun. God bless you Betty, Tim, Holly and all this fine family
Jeff Courtway
My condolences to the family of Harold Horton. I will never forget the wonderful time we spent with them while on a cruise. Jim and Harold got to know each other and we got to see first hand what a compassionate caring human Harold Horton was to everyone he met. Love and hugs to you Ms. Betty, prayers sent to the family. Martha Jackson.
