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This Day in Arkansas History

March 31, 1928

“Lefty” Frizzell was born in Corsicana, Texas. He debuted as a singer on radio station KELD in El Dorado (Union County) when he was twelve, and he acquired his nickname in a schoolyard brawl. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential singers in country music history as virtually the prototype of what became known as honky-tonk singers—plainspoken vocalists whose regional roots were immaterial because they sounded as friendly as a storytelling neighbor. Willie Nelson remarked that “without Lefty Frizzell, a lot of us singers wouldn’t have a style.”

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George Kell

A lifelong resident of Swifton (Jackson County), George Kell was a professional baseball player, announcer, and businessman. Born in 1922, Kell began his professional baseball career in the minor leagues before being picked up by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1944. He went on to play for four other teams, appearing in six All-Star Games and leading the American League in hitting in 1949. After the 1957 season, he retired and became an announcer, eventually becoming the “Voice of the Detroit Tigers.” In 1983, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

 

A lifelong resident of Swifton (Jackson County), George Kell was a professional baseball player, announcer, and businessman. Born in 1922, Kell began his professional baseball career in the minor leagues before being picked up by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1944. He went on to play for four other teams, appearing in six All-Star Games and leading the American League in hitting in 1949. After the 1957 season, he retired and became an announcer, eventually becoming the “Voice of the Detroit Tigers.” In 1983, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Canopy in park with benches under it and paved walking paths Westside School Shooting Criminal Activities "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns Jim Dandy Mangrum Rock Angry white crowd surrounding young African-American girl sitting on bench with white woman talking to her Elizabeth Ann Eckford School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation Mixed group of people reflected as their younger selves in pool with multistory building behind them with text above that Little Rock Nine School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation White women and men with damaged buildings behind them, photograph labeled "Brinkley Cyclone" Tornadoes Climatology, Natural Disasters Young African-American man in graduation robe with cap Ernest Gideon Green School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation Older white woman smiling in pearl earrings and necklace Martha Mitchell National Figures Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Lawyers, State Figures "In memory of those killed December 1987 Pope County Arkansas" flat engraved marker on grass Ronald Gene Simmons Criminal Activities Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War Aerial view of river and fields in the background, white man and woman perched on rock outcropping in foreground Arkansas River Physical Geography, Water Man at base of large tree covered mound in field Indian Mounds Sites and Artifacts Book cover featuring white woman with blond hair and bright lipstick Gennifer Flowers
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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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