Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Travis Farrar was a two-sport student-athlete at then Southern State College from 1952-55, playing at quarterback in football and as a pitcher on the Mulerider baseball team.
           
It was on the mound in baseball that Farrar was exceptional.  Numerous major league scouts flocked to SAU baseball games for Farrar’s fastball, which approached 100 miles an hour.  Eventually, a football shoulder injury forced Farrar to give up plans for a professional career.  He pitched SAU to a tri-championship in 1953 and to an outright title in ‘54.  Farrar was an All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) selection in 1953 and 1954, throwing two no-hitters in ‘53.  In football, he was a backup to All-AIC quarterback Louis Sanford, before starting in 1954.
           
Farrar left SAU for a football coaching role at Springhill, La., in 1955.  He was an assistant for the Lumberjacks before being named head coach in 1963.  In his 30th season as head of the Lumberjack program, Farrar suffered a fatal heart attack in a game against Minden.
           
Farrar ranked as one of Louisiana’s all-time winning coaches with a high school record of 231-98-13.  He was the national Region 5 (Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas) Coach of the Year in 1991, and was District Coach of the Year 17 times.  Farrar led Springhill to the Louisiana state championship in 1985, to the finals twice more, and to the state playoffs for 18 years.   His ‘Jacks won 18 district championships.  In 1987 he received the Select Circle Coaching Award, and in 1985 was presented the city of Springhill’s Ambassador Award.
           
Farrar was inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, the same year that Benny Baucum Stadium in Springhill was renamed Baucum-Farrar Lumberjack Stadium.  Since his untimely death, the city of Springhill has named a street in his honor.  

A native of Magnolia, Travis married the former Lib Nipper.  The Farrar’s have three daughters, Karen Coon, Joan Milton, and Kathy Jackson, and eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.