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This Day in Arkansas History

June 15, 1836

The U.S. Congress ratified the proposed constitution submitted by the Arkansas Territory, and Arkansas was admitted as the twenty-fifth state in the Union. Voting was limited to any free white male, with no property or qualifications for voting or holding office. James Sevier Conway was elected to serve as the first governor, and Archibald Yell became the first U.S. representative.

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William Carr

Judged by the Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) High School coaches to be too small for the traditional sports of basketball and football, Bill Carr turned to the sport of track and field. He excelled at the sport and become the first Arkansas Olympian to win two gold medals in the same Olympics. In 1932, he set an Olympic record in both the 400-meter sprint and as the anchor in the 1,600-meter relay. In 1954, he was named to the Sports Illustrated All-Time Olympic Team. He died on January 14, 1966, and is buried in Pine Bluff.

 

Judged by the Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) High School coaches to be too small for the traditional sports of basketball and football, Bill Carr turned to the sport of track and field. He excelled at the sport and become the first Arkansas Olympian to win two gold medals in the same Olympics. In 1932, he set an Olympic record in both the 400-meter sprint and as the anchor in the 1,600-meter relay. In 1954, he was named to the Sports Illustrated All-Time Olympic Team. He died on January 14, 1966, and is buried in Pine Bluff.

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

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