Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

November 12, 1889

William Jayson (Bill) Waggoner was born near the community of Needmore (Lonoke County). Waggoner was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives for the 1915 term. He represented Lonoke County, serving as temporary speaker of the house during his second term, and was also elected to the state constitutional convention before resigning from the Arkansas General Assembly in order to be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War I. After his return, he later served as both prosecuting attorney and circuit judge, being recognized as the longest-serving circuit judge in the state.

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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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New to Arkansas?

Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics and more!

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