MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas Athletic Department is saddened by the loss of 2009 Hall of Fame Inductee, Wayne Ross, who passed away on July 14, 2020 at Hospice of Texarkana. He was 58.
 
A four-time All-AIC swimmer for the Muleriders from 1980-1983, Ross set and holds numerous Southern Arkansas swimming records in the 50, 100, 200, and 1,000-yard freestyle, the 100 breaststroke, the 200 individual medley, and as a member of the 400 freestyle, the 400 medley, and the 800 freestyle relay teams.  His 1982 team participated in the NAIA national swim meet held in Vancouver, British Columbia, and at the NAIA national meet hosted by Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia in 1983. He earned his BBA from Southern Arkansas University in 1988.
 
Wayne was coached by his father, the late Dr. Delwin Ross, a 2010 inductee into the SAU Sports Hall of Fame, who also coached baseball, men's basketball, and football in his long SAU career, and also played sports at what was then Magnolia A&M and a junior college.  In his freshman season of 1980, Wayne helped provide his father win the AIC and District 17 coach of the year honors.
 
Delwin and Wayne are the only father-son duo to be inducted into the SAU Sports Hall of Fame.
 
Viewing and signing of the guestbook will be available on Thursday, July 16th from 1:00 to 6:00 pm at Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. A graveside service will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery at 10:00 am on Friday, July 17, 2020 with Roger Dunlap officiating. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church with Dustin Wisely and David Watkins officiating.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to First Baptist Church, PO Box 456, Magnolia, Arkansas 71754 and designated for Missions or the Student Building. Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Bullock, Greg Matthews, Jeff Neill, Scott Rowland, Craig Rogers, Ricky Talley, and Lynn Gates.
 
To sign the online guestbook or share a memory visit www.lewisfuneralhome.biz.