On March 18, 1947, Governor Ben T. Laney signed the bill into law which authorized the construction of War Memorial Stadium.
The plans for the stadium were the brainchild of Arkansas Secretary of State C.G. “Crip” Hall and University of Arkansas Athletic Director John Barnhill.
Apparently the Southwest Conference was threatening to kick Arkansas out because of an inadequate football facility. Since the University did not have the funds to build a new one on its campus, Barnhill and Hall decided that the state should build one. Many other states were building War Memorial facilities of a variety of natures. The duo decided that the new football facility could be a War Memorial Stadium to pay tribute to the men who died in the recently concluded World War II. While the stadium was touted as being of use to all colleges in the state and a variety of other types of activities, it was very much designed to be a home for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Getting the stadium through the Arkansas General Assembly was not easy. The bill to create the stadium commission sailed through both houses. But even some who voted for it said they would oppose any funding bills. When time came to vote for the funding, the bill fell far short of the three-quarters vote that was needed in the House for an appropriation bill.
WWII veterans were on both sides of the issue. Some felt it was an appropriate way to honor those who died. Others felt it was a gimmick to get the stadium approved. Some of the opponents felt that a new state hospital for UAMS would be the more appropriate way to honor those who died during the war. The debates were often heated and personal.
Overnight a new bill was created. It would pay for the stadium through the issuing of bonds. In addition to the state issuing bonds, any city which wished to bid for it would have to put up money for it as well as provide land. This new bill would require only 51 votes to pass the House. It was able to pass that threshold. The Senate made a few amendments (mostly dealing with the composition of the stadium commission and the amount of dollars that the host city had to pledge). Finally the House agreed to the Senate amendments and it went to Governor Laney.
The next hurdle for the stadium was choosing a location. That process would occupy stadium proponents throughout the spring and summer of 1947.
Louise Loughborough was the first woman to serve on the Little Rock Planning Commission. Not only was the she first woman to serve on this body, she was the first to serve on any City commission other than the Board of Censors or Library Board.
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Jimmie Lou Fisher served as a Constitutional officer in Arkansas longer than any other woman in the state’s history (twenty-four years). Her twenty-two years as Treasurer is also the longest any person has served in that post. (And unless the term limits rules for Constitutional officers are changed, it is a record that is likely to stand.)
FEASTival 2019 features wine, spirits, beers, and artful edibles from central Arkansas’ best culinary creators, a silent auction and raffle.
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