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This Day in Arkansas History

January 7, 1975

David Pryor was inaugurated Arkansas’s thirty-ninth governor. His tenure held tightly onto a theme of fiscal restraint and oversaw the establishment of several new governmental units, such as the Department of Natural and Cultural Heritage and the Department of Local Services. In 1978, he was elected a U.S. senator; he served three terms. While senator, Pryor served on the Committee on Aging and was known for his advocacy for the aged and for promoting taxpayers’ rights. In 2004, David Pryor was named the inaugural dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, staying in that position until 2006. In 2008, he published his autobiography, A Pryor Commitment, co-written by Don Harrell.

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Watermelon Girls

Born in Crittenden County in 1913, regional artist Carroll Cloar used his childhood memories as subject matter for his art. The works he created from his life experiences and the images in old photographs defined his art, especially in his later years, and gained him national recognition. While well known for his lithographic work, Cloar also produced many paintings, such as this 1986 acrylic on panel titled Watermelon Girls.

 

Born in Crittenden County in 1913, regional artist Carroll Cloar used his childhood memories as subject matter for his art. The works he created from his life experiences and the images in old photographs defined his art, especially in his later years, and gained him national recognition. While well known for his lithographic work, Cloar also produced many paintings, such as this 1986 acrylic on panel titled Watermelon Girls.

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Potrait of white man in suit with raised collar Roswell Beebe Business Leaders, Land Frank Stanford Poetry Wood frame lodge and boulder lined gravel road with cars trees Cherokee Village Fulton, Sharp "Hempstead County" map with borders roads cities waterways Spring Hill Hempstead White man with mustache dressed in suit holding pocketwatch Henry Moore Sr. Business Leaders Panorama of kitchen, barracks, uniformed men, truck, and rock walls, hand-signed "C.C.C. Camp Nodak - Plainview, Ark. 11-8-33" New Deal Projects Two white men sitting with coffee cup papers and image of the White House with white text below them The War Room Films Fountain Brown Civil War to Gilded Age, Religious Figures Close-up of vinyl record with red label and deer illustrations Teddy DeLano Riedel Country, Rock "Say Grant or Die" newspaper clipping Tabbs Gross Editors and Publishers, Lawyers White man with beard and cowboy hat and white man with beard on black background with red and white text and footstep designs Ronnie Gene Dunn Country "Brundidge Defeated on Face of Return Charges Fraud and Contests the Election" newspaper clipping Stephen Brundidge Jr. Lawyers, Legislative Branch -- Representatives Book cover featuring abstract face with three eyes and multiple appendages Ed Madden Educators and Administrators, Fiction Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Contraband Camps Locations "Melvin L Endsley" gravestone with guitar engraving and portrait on it in cemetery Melvin Endsley Country White woman with long hair smiling in blue shirt Beth Brickell Television and Streaming

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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