PB Sports Hall of Fame banquet tonight

Eddie Jordan, Doug Pennington and Clifford Wicks will be inducted into the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame tonight at the 30th annual banquet at the 5th & 6th Grade Center.

Jordan was a state champion in the 440-yard dash as a senior at Poplar Bluff and lettered in track at Lincoln University.

Pennington is six-time national champion in the Master Division of the U.S. Canoe Association.

Wicks ran the 100-yard dash in 9.9 seconds, setting the Poplar Bluff record, and also ran the 440 and on relay teams for the Mules. In football, he was a two-way All-Conference selection as offensive guard and defensive end, later playing at Southeast Missouri State.

To be eligible for election, a person must be 35, a native of Poplar Bluff who has participated in or contributed to sports here or elsewhere, or a person who came to Poplar Bluff and distinguished themselves here. They must first clear a preliminary ballot of over 100 voters then are voted on by a nine-member board of directors and must receive a minimum of 3/4 of the votes to be elected.

The Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame, which was started in 1981 and includes 80 individuals and seven teams, is located in the Poplar Bluff Museum.

Also expected to be at the banquet is Hall of Fame member Derland Moore who will be honored at Friday's football game between the Mules and Cape Central. The field at Morrow Stadium will be named for Moore, who was elected to the Hall in 1987. Here's Moore's Hall plaque:

Played 14 years with New Orleans Saints ... Most years and most games (169) than any player in Saints history ... Played one season game and two playoff games with the New York Jets in 1986. ... Was 29th player selected in the 1973 NFL Draft. ... Picked in second round by New Orleans ... 1983 Miller Lite Saints Man-of-the-Year ... Pro Bowl alternate at nose tackle in 1983 ... Won NFL Arm Wrestling Championship in 1983 and 1984 ... Started every game (40) for the University of Oklahoma from 1969 thru 1972 at defensive tackle ... All Big Eight selection in 1971 and 1972 ... Associated Press first team All-American in 1972 ... Played in 1970 Blue Bonnett Bowl and Sugar Bowl in 1971 and 1972 ... Named National Lineman-of-the-Week (against University of Texas) in 1972 ... Won "Gomer Jones Award" as Oustanding College Lineman in Oklahoma in 1972 ... Played in the Coaches All-American Game and College All-Star Game in 1973 ... Member of the P.B.H.S. Mules 1966 undefeated team ... Honored on November 4, 1984 with "Derland Moore Day" in the City of New Orleans ... Announced his retirement from professional football on September 6, 1987.