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This Day in Arkansas History

October 27, 2007

Original Tuskegee Airman Milton Pitts Crenchaw was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. Crenchaw was one of the first African Americans in the country and the first from Arkansas to be trained by the federal government as a civilian licensed pilot. He trained hundreds of cadet pilots while at Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute in the 1940s and was the catalyst in starting the first successful flight program at Philander Smith College in Little Rock (Pulaski County) from 1947 to 1953. His combined service record extends for over forty years of federal service from 1941 to 1983 with the U.S. Army (in the Army Air Corps) and eventually the U.S. Air Force.

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Dale Evans with Roy Rogers

Dale Evans was an actress, author, and songwriter who was raised in Osceola (Mississippi County), where she first attended school. She rose to fame as America’s “Queen of the West” (sometimes called “Queen of the Cowgirls”) alongside her fourth husband, Roy Rogers (“King of the Cowboys”). She starred in movies, television shows, and evangelical Christian programs. Evans wrote twenty-eight inspirational books and composed many songs, including the iconic American standard “Happy Trails.”

 

Dale Evans was an actress, author, and songwriter who was raised in Osceola (Mississippi County), where she first attended school. She rose to fame as America’s “Queen of the West” (sometimes called “Queen of the Cowgirls”) alongside her fourth husband, Roy Rogers (“King of the Cowboys”). She starred in movies, television shows, and evangelical Christian programs. Evans wrote twenty-eight inspirational books and composed many songs, including the iconic American standard “Happy Trails.”

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Single-story brick and glass library building and trees with walking path Williams Baptist University Four-Year: Colleges and Universities, Institutions and Buildings Brick church building with four columns and steeple with vehicle parked in front Ouachita Baptist University Four-Year: Colleges and Universities, Institutions and Buildings White woman with long hair and earrings Hillary Clinton Executive Branch Young white protesters with signs being interviewed by local news Abortion Women Old white woman with curly hair and glasses in white coat Sex Education Public Health Text "The twenty eighth annual Arkansas Aviation Historical Society Hall of Fame honoring Adolphus H. (Pat) Bledsoe Jr. Zemery Melvern (Jack) Stell Dennis R. Gardisser Adolphus Henry “Pat” Bledsoe Jr. African-American man with a mustache in suit and tie Mifflin Wistar Gibbs Business Leaders, Judges white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock steaming nuclear cooling tower as seen from across a lake Lake Dardanelle State Park State Parks Men women and children playing in field with cabin building and at base of tree covered mountain Pinnacle Mountain State Park State Parks Charcoal portrait drawing of Native American man wearing necklaces and a wide antique hat decorated with stars. Lost Prairie Raid of 1820 Pre-Civil War Service station with cars, water tower "Esso. Grand opening today" Lockesburg Sevier Terrazzo plaque engravings of Arkansas shape symbol engraved and text "Dr. Edith Irby Jones Medical Pioneer First African American admitted to white medical school in the south first woman president of National Medical Association" Arkansas Walk of Fame Attractions (Historic and Current) Large crowd on a steamboat with two smoke stacks at boat dock Sultana Ships and Vessels, Water Lithium Mining Businesses, Mining Redlining

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, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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