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This Day in Arkansas History

March 15, 1947

James Ronald Rodgers Sr., the nation’s first African American to be appointed manager of a major commercial airport, the first black head of a major independent city agency in Little Rock (Pulaski County), and the state’s first black commercial loan officer, was born in Little Rock. In 1980, Rodgers was named manager of Little Rock Regional (now National) Airport at age thirty-three. During his tenure from 1980 to 1993, boardings went from 494,000 to more than one million, a 200,000-square-foot expansion of the terminal was completed, a runway was renovated and extended from 7,173 feet to about 8,000 feet, and a parallel runway was built. The expansion projects Rodgers coordinated totaled more than $70 million.

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Daisy State Park

The 276-acre Daisy State Park is situated on the northern shoreline of 7,000-acre Lake Greeson in southwest Arkansas. The original 272 acres of land for the park were acquired by the state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on March 22, 1955. The clear water and Ouachita Mountain scenery make the Pike County park a favorite of campers seeking water sports and fishing. Daisy is the eighth state park established in Arkansas.

 

The 276-acre Daisy State Park is situated on the northern shoreline of 7,000-acre Lake Greeson in southwest Arkansas. The original 272 acres of land for the park were acquired by the state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on March 22, 1955. The clear water and Ouachita Mountain scenery make the Pike County park a favorite of campers seeking water sports and fishing. Daisy is the eighth state park established in Arkansas.

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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 Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal Older white woman smiling in green suit and glasses with earrings Alice Louise Walton Business Leaders, Philanthropy Large rock with memorial plaque on it listing victims names and hometowns for each Negro Boys Industrial School Fire of 1959 School Desegregation Printed signed stamped page "sixty fifth congress united states joint resolution" regarding alcohol prohibition Prohibition Foodways The Clinton Chronicles "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 Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities 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 Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Multistory red brick church building with steeple Seventh-Day Adventists Faiths and Denominations white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Trees and buildings painted on hog sculpture with brick building in the background Razorback Hogs Zoology White man with stubbled beard sitting in backwards cap and jacket with his hands clasped under his chin Billy Bob Thornton Actors and Filmmakers
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"State Bar honors Justice Battle" newspaper clipping Burrill Bunn Battle Judges Headline "Fighting Alley Aroused. A Row Over a Game of Cards One Man Draws a Double Barreled Shotgun" Battle Row and Fighting Alley Pulaski Group of young white men in uniforms and coach in a suit and tie with "Champions 07" sign Battle of the Ravine Football Tree covered mound on river shore Battle Mound Site Museums and Historic Sites, Sites and Artifacts Battery E, Second U.S. Colored Artillery Units and Organizations Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Batteries A, B, C, and D Locations, Museums and Historic Sites African-American woman with short hair smiling with her head resting in her hand Luenell Batson Actors and Filmmakers, Television and Streaming Symmetrical three-story building with large arched windows on the ground level and street Bathhouse Row Attractions (Historic and Current), Buildings older White man with long mustache in military uniform Skirmish at Batesville Civil War Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmish at Batesville Civil War Scout from Batesville to West Point, Grand Glaize, Searcy Landing, etc. Civil War Expedition from Batesville to near Searcy Landing Civil War Map showing route of scouting expedition with notes alongside Expedition from Batesville to Elgin Civil War Scout from Batesville to Denmark, Fairview, Hitcher's Ferry and Bush's Ford Civil War White man in black suit with red curtains in the background Expedition from Batesville to Devil's Fork of the Little Red River Civil War Young white boy on bicycle under a diamond shaped Coca-Cola and Dawson's Grocery sign Batesville Regional Airport Air

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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