Funeral arrangements have been set for Jim Grizzle, a former Arkansas defensive end and a team captain of the 1963 team, who died Sunday afternoon in a hospital in Fort Smith.
A visitation with family will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, at Ocker Putnam Funeral Home on Jenny Lind in Fort Smith, according to the funeral home’s website.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, at Community Bible Church on Dallas Street in Fort Smith. Grizzle will be laid to rest at Woodlawn Memorial Park on Stateline Road.
Grizzle played for the Razorbacks from 1961-1963 before opening a successful business, the Jim Grizzle Tire Company in Fort Smith. Grizzle, of Fort Smith, was a lifelong supporter of Arkansas athletics and owned a private suite at Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium.
Close friend and former teammate Harold Horton said Grizzle went to the hospital Friday evening but did not know the cause of his illness or death. Horton said Grizzle, 71, had been in fine health recently.
“When I think of Jim Grizzle, my heart smiles,” Horton said. “Jim Grizzle was a good Razorback. He loved the Razorbacks as a player and as a businessman. You enjoyed being around Jim because it was fun and it was laughter.”
Memorials may be made to either; The Children’s Emergency Shelter 3015 South 14th Street Fort Smith, AR 72901 or to the Alzheimer’s Association 320 North Greenwood Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901.
