Civil Rights Icon Elizabeth Eckford speaks this evening as part of Clinton School program

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Scott

Elizabeth Eckford helped change the course of American history as a member of the Little Rock Nine, the nine African-American students who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The situation at Central High resulted in the nation’s greatest constitutional crisis since the Civil War. Federal troops were sent to Little Rock to ensure that Eckford and other students could attend the school.

Tonight she will speak as part of a program at 5pm in the Wally Allen Ballroom of the Statehouse Convention Center. Doors open at 4:30pm. The program is sponsored by the Clinton School of Public Service, in partnership with the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators.

In 1958, she and the other members of the Little Rock Nine were awarded the prestigious Spurgeon Medal. In 1998, Little Rock Central High School became Little Rock Central National Historic Site. At a White House ceremony in 1999, Eckford, along with other members of the Little Rock Nine, received the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian award.

A graduate of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, Eckford went on to serve in the United States Army. In 2018 she wrote a book about her experience, “The Worst First Day: Bullied While Desegregating Central High.”

All Clinton School Speaker Series events are free and open to the public. Reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or by calling (501) 683-5239.

Little Rock Copper Bowl: When Chiefs (of the Police variety) were involved in football in Little Rock

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Scott

Next Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday, so it seems to be a good time to remember the five year series of football games in Little Rock known as the Copper Bowl.

From December 1959 through December 1963, the Little Rock Police Department played the North Little Rock Police Department in a series of football games. The Copper Bowl games were fundraisers to help the LRPD provide food and presents for needy families during the Christmas season.

The agreement was that the teams would play for five years. The team with the most wins would permanently receive the Copper Bowl trophy. The LRPD was outfitted with uniforms from Little Rock University and Louisiana State University (thanks to the efforts of Sgt. Harold Zook). The games were played at Quigley Stadium.

Before the final game on December 1, 1963, the series was tied at 2-2. The LRPD team won the game and permanently captured the trophy. Over the five year period several thousand dollars were raised.

27 African American students seek to integrate Little Rock schools in January 1956

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Scott

Arkansas Democrat photo by staff photographer Mr. Bisgood.

On Monday, January 23, 1956, twenty-seven African American students attempted to integrate four Little Rock schools. By the end of the day, all four school principals had refused entry and some of the students had met with LRSD Superintendent Virgil Blossom.

Eight girls who were students at Horace Mann High School arrived at Central High at 9:30 am accompanied by Daisy Bates and Frank W. Smith both of the NAACP. One male student attempted to integrate Little Rock Technical High School. Four students arrived at Forest Heights Junior High (accompanied by three adults) and fourteen students attempted to integrate Forest Park Elementary (accompanied by four adults). Neither the Arkansas Gazette nor the Arkansas Democrat broke down the age or gender of the junior high and elementary students.

Though all were referred to meet with Mr. Blossom, only the young women from Horace Mann visited with him. After the conversation both he and Mrs. Bates declared the conversation had been friendly. Mr. Blossom, in denying the request, noted that the Little Rock School District had a plan for integration. To allow them to integrate immediately would have been going against the plan. The integration plan was connected to the completion of the new high school. If it were ready to open in the fall of 1957, then integration at the high schools would start then. The newspapers noted that there was no timeline for when it would extend down to the junior high and elementary levels.

That evening, Rev. J. C. Crenchaw, the president of the Little Rock NAACP, issued a statement. In it he expressed frustration that the LRSD was vague on its timeline for integration. He noted that the students lived near the schools which they tried to integrate and were therefore forced to travel several extra miles each day to attend school. He also commented that the young man who attempted to enroll at Tech was not afforded the training available there at his current school.

The Arkansas Democrat ran a photo of the meeting with Mr. Blossom. It identified the seven students who were pictured. No mention was made as to whether the eighth student was present but not photographed, or if she did not attend the meeting. As was the practice at the time, the addresses of the students were listed by their names. Based on those addresses, the students lived between 0.4 and 0.9 miles from Central High School and were between 2.1 and 3.2 miles away from Horace Mann High School. Of the seven students in the photo, two were seniors, three were juniors, and three were sophomores. None of the students named became part of the Little Rock Nine who did integrate Central High twenty-one months later.

There was no discussion in the media as to how long this plan had been in place or the genesis of it–had it been part of a national initiative or simply the local NAACP? There were also no details as to how the students had been selected.

On January 24, the Gazette editorial writer opined they were glad for the amicable nature of the conversations. They hoped it did not affect the good race relations in Little Rock. The writer concluded by saying they did not want it to incite extremists (but did not specify if they viewed the extremists as being for or against integration.

MLK in LR

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Scott

Ernest Green, Dr. King and Daisy Bates share a relaxed moment — which was probably rare for the three in 1958

Today is the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. It is an apt time to think about Dr. King and Little Rock. A friend of L. C. and Daisy Bates, he attended the 1958 Central High School graduation to witness Ernest Green receiving a diploma. Each senior only received eight tickets to the ceremony at Quigley Stadium. Dr. King was in the state to address the Arkansas AM&N (now UAPB) graduation.

His attendance was briefly mentioned in the local press, but there was no media photo of him at the ceremony. The Little Rock School District limited the press to one Democrat and one Gazette photographer. Other press were limited to the press box.

Ernest Green has a photo of him with Daisy Bates and Dr. King (pictured on this entry).

In 1968, when Dr. King was assassinated, Little Rock did not see the unrest that many cities did. Part of that was probably due to quick action by Governor Winthrop Rockefeller. The Governor released a statement fairly quickly expressing his sorrow at the tragedy and calling for a day of mourning. He also made the State Capitol available for the NAACP to have a public memorial, as well as worked with a group of ministers to host an interdenominational service.

Little Rock Mayor Martin Borchert issued a statement as well:

We in Little Rock are disturbed about the incident in Memphis. We are disturbed regardless of where it had happened. Killing is not the Christian solution to any of our problems today.

In Little Rock, we feel we have come a long way in 10 years toward solving some of our problems of living and working together regardless of race, creed or color.

The city Board of Directors in Little Rock has pledged itself toward continuing efforts to make Little Rock a better place in which to live and work for all our citizens.

We feel the efforts of all thus far have proved we can live in harmony in Little Rock and are confident such an incident as has happened will not occur in Little Rock. We will continue our most earnest efforts toward the full needs of our citizens.

The day after Dr. King was assassinated, a group of Philander Smith College students undertook a spontaneous walk to the nearby State Capitol, sang “We Shall Overcome” and then walked back to the campus. President Ernest T. Dixon, Jr., of the college then hosted a 90 minute prayer service in the Wesley Chapel on the campus.

On the Sunday following Dr. King’s assassination, some churches featured messages about Dr. King. As it was part of Holy Week, the Catholic Bishop for the Diocese of Little Rock had instructed all priests to include messages about Dr. King in their homilies. Some protestant ministers did as well. The Arkansas Gazette noted that Dr. Dale Cowling of Second Baptist Church downtown (who had received many threats because of his pro-integration stance in 1957) had preached about Dr. King and his legacy that morning.

Later that day, Governor Rockefeller participated in a public memorial service on the front steps of the State Capitol. The crowd, which started at 1,000 and grew to 3,000 before it was over, was racially mixed. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Governor and Mrs. Rockefeller joined hands with African American ministers and sang “We Shall Overcome.”

That evening, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral was the site of an interdenominational service which featured Methodist Bishop Rev. Paul V. Galloway, Catholic Bishop Most Rev. Albert L. Fletcher, Episcopal Bishop Rt. Rev. Robert R. Brown, Rabbi E. E. Palnick of Temple B’Nai Israel, Gov. Rockefeller, Philander Smith President Dixon, and Rufus King Young of Bethel AME Church.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Borchert stated:

We are gathered this afternoon to memorialize and pay tribute to a great American….To achieve equality of opportunity for all will require men of compassion and understanding on the one hand and men of reason and desire on the other.

Mayor Borchert pledged City resources to strive for equality.

Another Little Rock Mayor, Sharon Priest, participated in a ceremony 24 years after Dr. King’s assassination to rename High Street for Dr. King in January 1992. The name change had been approved in March 1991 to take effect in January 1992 in conjunction with activities celebrating Dr. King’s life. At the ceremony, Daisy Bates and Annie Abrams joined with other civil rights leaders and city officials to commemorate the name change.

In tribute to Phyllis Brandon

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Scott

It seems fitting that I learn of Phyllis Brandon’s death on a Sunday, since she shaped Sundays for so many people for decades.

Phyllis D. Brandon played a unique role in shaping and supporting Little Rock’s cultural life. As the first and longtime editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette‘s High Profile section, she promoted cultural institutions, supporters and practitioners.

Since it started in 1986, being featured in High Profile has been akin to the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. It exposes cultural institutions and events to new and wider audiences. There is no way to put a monetary measure on the support Brandon gave to Little Rock’s cultural life during her time leading High Profile from 1986 to 2009. From 2009 to 2011, she served as editor of Arkansas Life magazine, again supporting and promoting cultural life.

With her unassuming manner, she coaxed stories out of interview subjects and captured photos which highlighted events. A journalist since her junior high school days in Little Rock, Brandon was also a witness to history. As a recent graduate of the University of Arkansas, Brandon returned to her alma mater, Little Rock Central High, to cover the events in early September 1957 for the Arkansas Democrat. Eleven years later, she was in Chicago for the contentious and violent 1968 Democratic National Convention as a delegate.

From 1957 until 1986, she alternated between careers in journalism and the business world, as well as being a stay-at-home mother. Upon becoming founding editor of High Profile, she came into her own combining her nose for news and her life-long connections within the Little Rock community. As a writer and photographer, she created art in her own right. A look through High Profile provides a rich historical snapshot of the changes in Little Rock and Arkansas in the latter part of the 20th Century and start of the 21st Century.

It is impossible to overestimate the positive impact that Phyllis Brandon had on Little Rock’s cultural and philanthropic scene. But she would never take credit for anything. She always gave it to the leadership at the newspaper or to the people and organizations she covered.

Her modesty was genuine. One year I was seated as her dinner companion at the Arkansas Arts Center’s Tabriz. During dinner I asked her if she had ever considered writing a book. I mean, she had been a first-hand witness to Central High integration AND the 1968 Democratic Convention. Her response to me was a sheepish smile and then in a soft voice, “No. Who would want to read about my experiences?” I tried to assure her that many people would. But she was uncomfortable talking about herself, so I allowed her to change the subject.

Once I DID have the chance to honor her for her commitment to Little Rock’s arts scene. But to do so, I knew it had to be a surprise. It was at an event she was planning on covering. So I approached Walter Hussman about recognizing her. He assured me that he’d make sure she was there, and then proceeded to fill a table at the event with Democrat-Gazette leadership as an added tribute to her.

Then-Mayor Jim Dailey (who shared a July 31 birthdate with Phyllis) presented the award to her. She was shocked and probably would have preferred not to be in the spotlight. But she was gracious in accepting the honor. Thankfully, she did not have to make a speech. It is one of my favorite memories of Phyllis Brandon.

80 years ago today – Basketball came to Robinson Auditorium

Posted on January 11, 2020 by Scott

Coach Earl Quigley in the 1940s

While Joseph Taylor Robinson Memorial Auditorium is known today as a performance and meeting venue, in its early days it was also the home to sports. Eighty years ago tonight the first basketball game was played at Robinson.

With the renovation dropping the orchestra level down many feet, one of the basketball goals would have been approximately where the cast of Wicked is currently performing.

One of the first regular activities which took place in the lower level exhibition hall was a series of boxing and wrestling matches. Building on the success of this, basketball came to the convention hall in January 1940.

A series of games featuring Little Rock High School and North Little Rock High School were announced by Tiger Coach Earl Quigley to take place from January 11 through February 16, the official opening day for the facility.

At that time, neither high school had a gymnasium; therefore both schools played their basketball games on their school auditorium stages with fans seated in the audience. The convention hall offered a regulation size floor (made of pecan block parquet) with seating for over 1,300 people along the sidelines and in the balcony. The first men’s basketball game in Robinson Auditorium took place between the Little Rock High School Tigers and the North Little Rock High School Wildcats on January 11, 1940.

The Tigers lost the game before a crowd estimated to be 1,300. Earlier in the evening there had been an exhibition between two women’s basketball teams. The cost for admission to the games was 35 cents for the reserved seating and 25 cents for general admission.

New sculpture in Hillcrest celebrates COMMUNITY

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Scott

Earlier in December, Clay Enoch’s COMMUNITY sculpture was dedicated in Hillcrest at the Allsopp Promenade along Kavanaugh. It was placed there through a collaboration of the Hillcrest Residents Association, Hillcrest Merchants Association, and Sculpture at the River Market. CIty Directors Kathy Webb and Dean Kumpuris, along with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, also were involved in the project.

The sculpture depicts a variety of people engaged in numerous activities. While each may be doing their own thing, they come together to represent a collective body. Among the activities represented are biking, playing basketball, studying, playing a cello, and family units spending time together.

Enoch, a member of the National Sculptors’ Guild, is a native of Memphis. His UNITED sculpture was dedicated on the front lawn of Central High School in September 2017, in conjunction with the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central HIgh School.

Little Rock Culture Vulture

Cultural events, places and people in the Little Rock area

Tag Archives: Little Rock Central High School

Civil Rights Icon Elizabeth Eckford speaks this evening as part of Clinton School program

Little Rock Copper Bowl: When Chiefs (of the Police variety) were involved in football in Little Rock

27 African American students seek to integrate Little Rock schools in January 1956

MLK in LR

In tribute to Phyllis Brandon

80 years ago today – Basketball came to Robinson Auditorium

New sculpture in Hillcrest celebrates COMMUNITY

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