Hall of Fame
Wesley “Buddy” Jacobs was a Second Team All-Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) basketball player for Southern Arkansas University in 1954-55, and a First Team All-AIC selection in 1955-56. He averaged 21 points a game as a senior. As a slugging Mulerider first baseman, he was honored as a First Team All-AIC selection in baseball in 1953, 1954, 1955, and 1956. The four-time First Team All-Conference slugger hit over .300 all four years, and was one of the best defensive players at his position, first base, to ever wear a ‘Rider uniform.
The late W.T. Watson, who would later serve SAU as the all-time leader in basketball wins as head coach and director of athletics, was a Mulerider senior baseball player in 1953 and felt he needed to give tips on how to hit to the then freshman Jacobs. When Jacobs stepped to the plate for the first time for the ‘Riders, he hit a home run into the football stadium bleachers. Rounding third base, Jacobs grinned and asked Watson, “Is this the way you are supposed to do it, Watson?” Watson responded but not for print. Jacobs hit consistently throughout his SAU career to near .400 and was one of the all-time power hitters at SAU.
As a freshman at basketball practice one day, the 6-4 Jacobs swished a hook shot into the basket over the head of starting center Calvin Thomas, a 6-9 senior. Coach Elmer Smith yelled “hold the ball!.Jacobs, where in the h--- have you been?” Jacobs replied, “sitting on the bench, coach.” Coach Smith had take time out he was laughing so hard.
After graduating from SAU, Jacobs retired after a career in school administration and as a General in the Arkansas Army National Guard where he was known to fellow officers as “Jake”. He is married to the former Janice Smith, an alumnus of the university. They live in McGehee and have three daughters, Sherry Lynn Underwood, who has three boys, Tyler, Daniel, and Luke, Suzanne Roberts, who has two sons, Jacob and Grant, and Beth Rippy, who has a son, Wesley.
