Delano Cotton

Delano Cotton was born in Bentonville, Arkansas, and he was raised on a fifty acre farm in Cave Springs, Arkansas until 1952.  He was born the day that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected to his third term, so his parents named him Delano.  His family moved to Fayetteville in 1952.  Delano attended Washington Elementary, Hillcrest Junior High and then Fayetteville High School. Delano played football, basketball and baseball and was selected All-district, All-Conference and All-State in all three sports.  He was named Football High School All American in 1958 and was the only football player from Fayetteville High School to be selected for the Arkansas All-Star Football Game in 1959. As a junior in high school, Delano was a member of the FHS undefeated football team in 1957, with a record of 10-0. After graduation, Delano entered the University of Arkansas on a 4-year scholarship.  He graduated with a BSBA degree in 1964.  After college graduation, Delano signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Athletics, where he played with the Daytona Beach Florida Islanders as a pitcher.  A shoulder injury ended his career and he then served in the Army Reserves for six years. After leaving the Reserves, he became a Masters electrician and began Northwest Electric Company where he remains active today. Delano is married to Ginger Marple Cotton.  He has four children:  daughter K.C. Pummill and son-in-law John, daughter Ashley Mattingly and son-in-law Bo and Julie Smith and son-in-law Sean.  He has one son, Tim and daughter-n-law Janet.
Delano has fourteen grandchildren:  Addison, Emerson, and Paxton Pummill, King, Payton, Ty, and Lenox Mattingly, Ella Grace, Anna Claire, Amery Rose and Amelia Jane Cotton, and Brighton, Berkeley and Boston Smith.

Delano Cotton played football, basketball and baseball and was selected All-district, All-Conference and All-State in all three sports. He was named Football High School All American in 1958 and was the only football player from Fayetteville High School to be selected for the Arkansas All-Star Football Game in 1959. As a junior in high school, Delano was a member of the FHS undefeated football team in 1957, with a record of 10-0. fter graduation, Delano entered the University of Arkansas on a 4-year scholarship.  He graduated with a BSBA degree in 1964.  After college graduation, Delano signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Athletics, where he played with the Daytona Beach Florida Islanders as a pitcher.  A shoulder injury ended his career and he then served in the Army Reserves for six years.