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This Day in Arkansas History

March 11, 1949

The body of Brigadier General William Orlando Darby was returned to Arkansas. Darby, who was born in Fort Smith (Sebastian County) and who died in Italy in 1945 from combat wounds and was buried originally in a military cemetery outside Cisterno, Italy, was reinterred at Fort Smith National Cemetery just a few blocks from his boyhood home. After graduating from West Point, Darby had been chosen to organize, train, and lead an elite commando unit known as the First United States Ranger Battalion and was known as an exemplary leader. He was promoted to brigadier general two weeks after he died, the only soldier to have received such a posthumous promotion.

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Barry Switzer

Crossett (Ashley County) native Barry Switzer, seen here after the 1986 Orange Bowl, is one of only two football coaches to win both a national collegiate championship and the Super Bowl. Switzer’s sixteen-year tenure as head coach at the University of Oklahoma resulted in national championships in 1974, 1975, and 1985. He left Oklahoma and coaching in 1989 and did not return until 1994, when he accepted the position as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. In his first year, he led the team to a 13-5 record and the Super Bowl Championship. He retired from coaching in 1998.

 

Crossett (Ashley County) native Barry Switzer, seen here after the 1986 Orange Bowl, is one of only two football coaches to win both a national collegiate championship and the Super Bowl. Switzer’s sixteen-year tenure as head coach at the University of Oklahoma resulted in national championships in 1974, 1975, and 1985. He left Oklahoma and coaching in 1989 and did not return until 1994, when he accepted the position as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. In his first year, he led the team to a 13-5 record and the Super Bowl Championship. He retired from coaching in 1998.

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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 Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal 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 Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Aerial view of river and fields in the background, white man and woman perched on rock outcropping in foreground Geography and Geology Topical "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities White women and men with damaged buildings behind them, photograph labeled "Brinkley Cyclone" Tornadoes Climatology, Natural Disasters white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Large rock with memorial plaque on it listing victims names and hometowns for each Negro Boys Industrial School Fire of 1959 School Desegregation Trees and buildings painted on hog sculpture with brick building in the background Razorback Hogs Zoology "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 Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders some men in working clothing outside wooden building "General Store" Zinc Boone
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White man with long beard wearing hoodie with hood up holding box standing at convention booth in between tables with shelving and other boxes spread around with banners in background one in middle with text "Troll Lord Games" Troll Lord Games Businesses, Hobbies Aerial view of multiple buildings and streets University of Arkansas Four-Year: Colleges and Universities "Lonoke County Arkansas" hanging copper stele among others of the same kind Lynching Criminal Activities White man in suit speaking at a lectern with mixed group of men and women behind him LGBTQ+ Movement Political Movements, Sexual Orientation Postcard "We all want the freedom to make decisions that affect our lives" Initiatives and Referenda Laws and Court Cases one-story house with green and white metal awning over porch Lustron Houses Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites Three-story building on street with trees and parking lot Arkansas Education Association Educational Organizations and Programs small waterfall in middle of dense green forest River Designations Environmental Issues and Controversies, Physical Geography Large rock with memorial plaque on it listing victims names and hometowns for each Negro Boys Industrial School Fire of 1959 School Desegregation airplane hangar labeled "Drake Field Fayetteville" with military airplane and helicopter Museums Educational Organizations and Programs, Museums and Historic Sites Old white man playing a fiddle on stage with old white woman and white guitarists Arkansas Folk Festival Festivals and Events, Folklife Projects and Folklorists Magazine cover featuring a city scene and a fisherman Batesville Daily Guard Businesses, Newspapers and Magazines Multitiered castle like monument with engraved top and base panels Batesville Confederate Monument Cemeteries and Memorials Expedition from Batesville after Freeman's Command Civil War Multistory brick buildings on street with parked cars lined up in front of them and people on street corner Batesville Independence Older African-American man in suit and tie speaking before two microphones with assorted people behind him Lucious Christopher Bates Editors and Publishers, World War II to Faubus Era

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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