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This Day in Arkansas History

March 16, 1966

The town of Avoca (Benton County) was incorporated. Located on U.S. Highway 62 between Rogers (Benton County) and Pea Ridge National Military Park, it has benefited from the general growth in population that northwestern Arkansas has experienced.

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Winthrop Rockefeller

Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, pictured here in his official gubernatorial portrait, presented a marked departure from his predecessor in office, Orval Faubus. For instance, Rockefeller held a public ceremony on the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol following the death of Martin Luther King Jr., the only Southern governor to hold such a ceremony. While in office, he also worked to attract business to Arkansas and reform the state’s reprehensible prison system.

 

Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, pictured here in his official gubernatorial portrait, presented a marked departure from his predecessor in office, Orval Faubus. For instance, Rockefeller held a public ceremony on the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol following the death of Martin Luther King Jr., the only Southern governor to hold such a ceremony. While in office, he also worked to attract business to Arkansas and reform the state’s reprehensible prison system.

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Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Older white woman smiling in green suit and glasses with earrings Alice Louise Walton Business Leaders, Philanthropy white man in embroidered black shirt and white woman in turtleneck and white jacket smiling in front of trees "Tony and Susan Alamo Tony Alamo sings Mister DJ" Tony Alamo Criminal Activities, Religious Figures Large rock with memorial plaque on it listing victims names and hometowns for each Negro Boys Industrial School Fire of 1959 School Desegregation Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Multistory red brick church building with steeple Seventh-Day Adventists Faiths and Denominations Trees and buildings painted on hog sculpture with brick building in the background Razorback Hogs Zoology Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns White man with stubbled beard sitting in backwards cap and jacket with his hands clasped under his chin Billy Bob Thornton Actors and Filmmakers The Clinton Chronicles White women and men with damaged buildings behind them, photograph labeled "Brinkley Cyclone" Tornadoes Climatology, Natural Disasters "Great seal of the state of Arkansas" with eagle holding shield and "Regnat Popluas" ribbon in beak with angel mercy on one side and sword of justice on other Arkansas Overview
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Storefront and cafe building with couches on dirt road Watson Desha White women in uniform wearing bandanas pose with an American flag Women Topical, Women Large metal sculpture with two lamps Beacon of Peace and Hope Sculpture David Bazzel Football, Radio white man dressed as cowboy blowing into long, tubular musical instrument Bazooka [Musical Instrument] "Negro murderer burned at stake" newspaper clipping Glenco Bays Civil War to Gilded Age, Criminal Activities Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmish near Bayou Meto Civil War Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmish at Bayou Meto Civil War White man with dark hair beard and mustache in military uniform Action at Bayou Meto Civil War two men dressed for the outdoors holding shotguns and dead ducks in front of a row of old cars parked in a field Bayou Meto Physical Geography Map showing troop locations and movements Engagement at Bayou Fourche Civil War Sun shining through trees marshes along river bed in foreground Bayou Bartholomew Physical Geography Bay of Pigs Invasion Post Civil War Shell gas station with canopy and gas pumps with car Bay Craighead White man in black suit with red curtains in the background Elisha Baxter Governors Clapboard dogtrot-style house with brick chimney and trees Baxter County Historical and Genealogical Society Historians and Historic Organizations

About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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