Hall of Fame
After serving his country in World War II, Bill Alverson enrolled at Ozarks in 1946 and quickly became an integral part of the university's athletic program for the next three years. Alverson was a three-sport athlete, competing in football, baseball and basketball for C of O. He played two years of football as a two-way guard and three years of basketball as a reserve guard. But it was baseball where he made his biggest impact as a crafty left-handed pitcher. Known for his pinpoint accuracy and an ability to keep hitters off balance, Alverson was a two-time All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference selection and helped Ozarks compete for the 1949 AIC championship. He was also known for his durability on the mound, pitching in all of his team’s first nine games of the 1949 season. After leaving Ozarks, Alverson pitched several years in professional leagues in Arkansas and Louisiana, before finishing his baseball career with the Class C Fort Smith Giants of the Western Association. He had a tryout with the New York Yankees in 1952, but declined a contract in order to pursue a career in education. Alverson, who earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Arkansas, retired in 1984 after 37 years as a coach, teacher and administrator in Arkansas, including 15 years as a principal at Fort Smith Chaffin Junior High. He also worked as a sports official in baseball, football and basketball for 19 years, and officiated in both the Arkansas High School Coaches’ Association football and basketball all-star games. Alverson and his wife, Clara Chitwood (a 1950 U of O graduate), have been married 55 years and live in Greenwood, Ark.
