Birthday of Little Rock’s 67th Mayor – Tom Prince

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Scott

Future Little Rock Mayor Tom Prince was born on August 13, 1949. After graduating high school in 1967 (where he was on the state championship golf team), he attended the United States Naval Academy. He later received his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and began practicing law in Little Rock.

In 1984 he ran for the City of Little Rock Board of Directors and was elected. In January 1985, he was selected by his fellow City Directors to serve as Mayor of Little Rock. He served as Mayor until January 1987. During his term in office, Arkansas celebrated its Sesquicentennial. Mayor Prince oversaw the City’s participation in the celebratory activities. As Mayor he was also a strong advocate for expanding the city’s involvement in quality of life issues through enhanced parks and arts while maintaining a commitment to public safety and public works issues. After the completion of his four year term on the City Board, he did not seek a second term.

City of Little Rock races are non-partisan. After leaving office, he became involved in Democratic Party politics. In 1992, he campaigned for Bill Clinton’s presidential bid in Iowa and other Midwest states. When his law partner, Sheffield Nelson, ran for Governor in 1994 as a Republican, Prince resigned from his Democratic Party positions and worked on the Nelson campaign. In 1997, he was elected chair of the Pulaski County Republican Committee. In 1998, he ran for the United States Senate as a Republican.

In 1999, Prince experienced a family tragedy and took a sabbatical from practicing law. In 2000, he moved to St. Louis to become general counsel for a securities firm located there. Following several years with the securities firm, he joined a St. Louis law firm in private practice. After spending over a decade in St. Louis, Prince returned to Central Arkansas and is managing business interests.

Birth of Little Rock’s 34th Mayor – William G. Whipple – in 1834

Posted on August 4, 2019 by Scott

On August 4, 1834, future Little Rock Mayor William G. Whipple was born in Connecticut. He attended school in Massachusetts and graduated from Wesleyan University. After studying law at Albany Law School, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In 1868, Whipple moved to Little Rock following the 1866 death of his first wife in Wisconsin. Long active in Republican politics, he quickly became involved in Little Rock’s political and social life. Shortly after his arrival he was appointed United States Attorney and served three years.

In 1870, he married Mary S. Dodge, daughter of former mayor Roderick Lathrop Dodge MD. They had one son Durand, who followed his father into the legal profession. The Whipples were active members of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

In 1887, Whipple was elected Mayor of Little Rock and was re-elected two years later. Whipple’s mayoral administration introduced electric lighting to the city beginning on September 1, 1887, paved many streets with granite and macadam, created sixty miles of new brick and concrete sidewalks, and introduced a steam dummy railway.

In 1892, he ran for Governor of Arkansas as the Republican nominee but was unsuccessful. In 1895, he sought a third term for Mayor but was defeated by James A. Woodson.

From 1897 to 1900, he served as register of the US Land Office in Arkansas. Whipple, who had long practiced law, was appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas in 1900. He served in that capacity until 1913.

In July 1914, Mayor Whipple died. He is buried at Oakland Cemetery in Little Rock.

Remembering the late Willie Lee Hinton, on what would have been his 72nd birthday

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Scott

On August 2, 1947, future Little Rock Vice Mayor Willie Lee Hinton was born in Wynne. He was educated in Cross County. He then attended what is now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

For twenty-eight years, Hinton was a vocational education teacher at the Arkansas School for the Deaf. He was also very active in neighborhood activities as well as in grassroots community-building efforts.

In 1993, Hinton made his first race for the City Board of Directors. After narrowly losing the Ward 2 race in a special election, he returned to run again the following year. Hinton won the race in November 1994 and was re-elected in 1998 and 2002. In 2003, he was selected to serve as Little Rock Vice Mayor for a two year term.

Long an advocate for neighborhood empowerment, Hinton had championed the transformation of the old Lee Elementary School into a resource center. Under his leadership the building was purchased from the Little Rock School District in 1997 and opened in 2000 as the Neighborhood Resource Center. Five years later, the Little Rock City Board of Directors voted to name it in his honor. The building, which stands at 12th and Pine Streets, is a living testament to his vision of inclusiveness and the worth of every individual.

After battling a brain tumor for nearly two years, Hinton chose not to seek a fourth term on the Little Rock City Board. His public service to the citizens of Little Rock ended on December 31, 2006. On February 13, 2007, Hinton died at his home in Little Rock at the age of 59. He was survived by his wife Blondell, two children and two grandchildren. He is buried in the Graham Cemetery in Cross County.

RGB to Verizon

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Scott

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The Clinton School of Public Service and the Clinton Foundation have announced that the September 3 appearance by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been moved to Verizon Arena. Justice Ginsburg’s appearance is part of the Frank and Kula Kumpuris Distinguished Lecture Series.

Despite the venue change, the names on the wait list are keeping the event at capacity.

Those who are on the wait list will receive confirmation about their status as ticket holders in the coming days.

Happy Birthday to former Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Scott

On July 31, 1942, Dalton James “Jim” Dailey, Jr. was born to Dalton and Ellen Dailey. He would serve fourteen years as Little Rock’s 71st mayor and is now continuing his public service as the Director of Tourism for the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

After graduating from Little Rock Catholic High School, he attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He joined his father in the family business, Dailey’s Office Furniture.

In 1974, Dailey was elected to the City of Little Rock Board of Directors. He served one four-year term. The last two years of that term, he was the Vice Mayor of Little Rock.

Following that term, he remained engaged in civic activities including serving in leadership capacities in community campaigns. He also served as president of the National Office Products Association – the first Arkansan to do so. Dailey also served as the founding chair of Leadership Greater Little Rock.

In 1988, Dailey was elected to return to the City Board. He was reelected in 1992. Dailey served as Vice Mayor in 1991 and 1992. In January 1993, he was chosen by his fellow City Directors to serve a two year term as Mayor. Under his leadership, the Future-Little Rock goal-setting process took place.

Following a voter-approved change to the City structure, the position of Mayor was changed to be elected by the people while maintaining the City Manager form of government. On January 1, 1995, Jim Dailey was sworn in as the first popularly-elected Mayor of the City of Little Rock in over 38 years.

As Mayor, he served as Chair of the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee of the Federal Communications Commission. He was also a member of the United States Conference of Mayor’s Communications Task Force. He also served as president of the Arkansas Municipal League in 2002 and 2003.

While he was Mayor of Little Rock, he was a strong proponent of the development of the River Market and worked to locate the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock. He also worked to increase public safety support. He also oversaw the establishment of Central Arkansas Water, the development of downtown headquarters for Acxiom Corporation and Heifer International, and the creation of Prevention, Intervention and Treatment programs. In addition, he was instrumental in leading the efforts for the 40th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High in 1997.

Mayor Dailey was re-elected in 1998 and 2002. His fourteen years as Mayor of Little Rock set a longevity record. Upon his retirement the City’s fitness center was renamed the Jim Dailey Fitness and Aquatic Center. This was in recognition of his lifelong interest in wellness activities.

Since 1965, he has been married to the former Patti Murphy. They have four children and six grandchildren.

Shark Week – See the Shark and other figures in Clinton Center’s WASHED ASHORE exhibit

Posted on July 29, 2019 by Scott

Image result for shark clinton center

There is a shark on display in Little Rock which can be visited during Shark Week (and for a few weeks more.)

The Clinton Presidential Center’s temporary exhibit, Washed Ashore is a family-friendly exhibit that will feature more than 20 giant sea life sculptures – made entirely of trash and debris collected from beaches. This exhibit poignantly illustrates the toll trash takes on our oceans and waterways.

The incredible marine life sculptures will be accompanied by educational signage allowing visitors to learn about the fascinating species, environmental stewardship, responsible consumer habits, and how “every action counts” to help save our waterways.

Washed Ashore is a visual reminder of the disposable products that end up in our waters, and that each of us can take action to prevent further pollution. “Hope, creativity, [and] imagination will be required to meet the challenges that we face with our oceans,” said President Bill Clinton to the National Oceans Conference in June 1998. “But they are the traits that first enabled and inspired explorers to take to the sea. They are traits that allowed us to look at our inextricable ties to our environment and invent new ways to protect our natural wonders from harm in the last three decades. In the 21st century, these traits – hope, creativity, imagination – they must lead us to preserve our living oceans as a sacred legacy for all time to come.”

The Washed Ashore exhibit will be primarily displayed inside two of the Clinton Center’s
galleries. Visitors will see Eli the Eel, walk through the Reef at Risk, and be able to play the Styrofoam Drum Set. The exhibit will open to the public on April 27; a second phase featuring additional sculptures will open in June, when Priscilla the Parrot Fish, a 16-foot-long, 1,500-pound brightly-colored sculpture will greet visitors from the water fountains located outside the front doors.

“The sculptures are beautiful, truly works of art, but they are a poignant reminder that our oceans and waterways are precious resources that need our attention now more than ever,” said Stephanie S. Streett, executive director of the Clinton Foundation.

“From the student visitor to the grand parent, we hope that everyone who has the opportunity to enjoy Washed Ashore walks away with a renewed sense of awe and responsibility.”

Washed Ashore presents an opportunity to reflect on the Clinton administration’s efforts to safeguard essential bodies of water and promote environmental stewardship. “President Bill Clinton’s administration took strong action to protect our coasts and waterways,” said Terri Garner, director of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. “He signed crucial legislation and issued key executive orders designed to improve water quality, protect wetlands and coasts, and reduce waste while increasing the use of recycled products.”

More recognition for LRCVB CEO Gretchen Hall

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Scott

Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) President and CEO Gretchen Hall has been named Secretary/Treasurer for the 2019-2020 Board of Directors of Destinations International (DI), according to Craig Davis, DI Chair. Hall was installed on the organization’s Board of Directors at the 2018 DI convention. She has spent the major part of her career in the hospitality industry, serving the LRCVB in multiple roles for nearly 18 years. She has been the LRCVB’s President and CEO since May 2011.

Jim Keet, Chairman of the Little Rock Advertising and Promotion Commission, the governing body for the LRCVB, said, “We are fortunate to have Gretchen as our president and CEO. She has done an outstanding job for our city and, as a result, our state. Now her talent, hard work and vision are being recognized at the national level. The commission members and her staff congratulate her on this national honor.”

Hall, a Sheridan native, commented, “I’m honored to take on this new role with the DI Board. DI is the industry leader for education, advocacy and professional development. It has been a great resource for our LRCVB team, and I look forward to giving back to the organization that is such a positive ally for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) all over the world.”

Hall earned her Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) from DI in 2009. CDME is the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement.

Little Rock Culture Vulture

Cultural events, places and people in the Little Rock area

Category Archives: Civic Engagement

Birthday of Little Rock’s 67th Mayor – Tom Prince

Birth of Little Rock’s 34th Mayor – William G. Whipple – in 1834

Remembering the late Willie Lee Hinton, on what would have been his 72nd birthday

RGB to Verizon

Happy Birthday to former Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey

Shark Week – See the Shark and other figures in Clinton Center’s WASHED ASHORE exhibit

More recognition for LRCVB CEO Gretchen Hall

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