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This Day in Arkansas History

November 8, 1975

Jim Guy Tucker, who later became Arkansas’s forty-third governor, married Betty Allen; they had four children. Tucker’s administration carried Arkansas from the end of the Bill Clinton administration—during which Tucker essentially acted as governor the last year because of Clinton’s campaigning for president—to the beginning of the Mike Huckabee gubernatorial administration, which remained in power long enough to be stopped only by term limits. In his personal life, Tucker weathered political challenges, survived health problems, and faced a criminal indictment.

Learn more about Jim Guy Tucker Jr. Explore full history calendar

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Dredge Boat

Before the creation of the St. Francis Levee/Drainage District in 1893 and the delivery of massive dredge equipment such as the dredgeboat shown here in 1912, Mississippi County was described as a “hopeless permanent mosquito and malaria infested swamp.” Perhaps as much as ninety percent of the county was such a swamp with only about ten percent cultivatable. With the land drained, farm acreage increased considerably, and the instances of malaria sharply dropped almost immediately.

 

Before the creation of the St. Francis Levee/Drainage District in 1893 and the delivery of massive dredge equipment such as the dredgeboat shown here in 1912, Mississippi County was described as a “hopeless permanent mosquito and malaria infested swamp.” Perhaps as much as ninety percent of the county was such a swamp with only about ten percent cultivatable. With the land drained, farm acreage increased considerably, and the instances of malaria sharply dropped almost immediately.

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Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming A single bison standing at bottom of hill in grassy field trees and stump in background Bison Zoology White man wearing a hat and women in dresses picking cotton with long cotton sack stretching out behind her Great Depression Wooden sign held up by posts near road text "The Village @ Pickles Gap Shop Eat Relax" above smaller sign illustration of shaggy dog text "Doc's Coffee and Creamery" Pickles Gap Faulkner Portrait African-American male boxer with gloves raised, shorts, boots, in corner of ring Sonny Liston Boxing White man with long beard in military uniform with horse and dog Prairie Grove Campaign Timeline Civil War Icon of cannon next to text "The Camden Expedition Route" above old photo group of men with rifles on horseback next to large map marking various events along trail during military conflict Camden Expedition Timeline Civil War busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Two white people standing on a wooden boat dock on large lake surrounded by mountains Lake Catherine State Park State Parks Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Black and white photo of white boy in tinted goggles lying on examination table below lights and medical device Early Twentieth Century, 1901 through 1940 Time Period "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns Narrow stone building with water wheel and foot bridges with wooden railings and waterfall in the foreground Old Mill Attractions (Historic and Current), Sculpture Ornate metal and glass chapel with high ceiling and wooden door surrounded by wooded area Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites

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Black female nurse holding black infant on bed examined with stethoscope by black male doctor Health and Medicine Topical Map showing routes in red Indian Removal European Exploration to Early Statehood "Governor Hamby" newspaper clipping Cholera Pathology Multistory brick building with cupola on its roof and covered entrance with twin staircases leading to it Arkansas Baptist College Four-Year: Colleges and Universities, Institutions and Buildings Winter scene with tall trees and building elevated tours on either end University of Arkansas System White man in suit and tie in front of American flag French Hill Business Leaders, Legislative Branch -- Representatives Lake lined by trees Lake Conway Physical Geography White woman in green dress with arms crossed Sarah Huckabee Sanders Executive Branch Lewis Ernest Sawyer Legislative Branch -- Representatives Map of Arkansas large cities and highways with instructions on how to access area from neighboring states Hot Springs Village Garland, Saline Multistory buildings with four smokestacks and train tracks in the foreground Dierks Forests, Inc. Businesses Wooden electric chair with leather straps on display Capital Punishment Law Enforcement Illustration of stars stripes and donkey inside outline of Arkansas state text "I am a Democrat" Democratic Party Parties and Interest Groups Group of white men in suits posing in front of building with "Republican State Headquarters" written on it Republican Party Parties and Interest Groups White man smiling in suit and tie signed "Tim Griffin 2015" John Timothy Griffin Legislative Branch -- Representatives, Lt. Governors White man smiling in shirt and tie with American flag behind him Thomas Bryant Cotton Legislative Branch -- Representatives, Legislative Branch -- Senators

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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