April 22, 1930

Steve Stephens, famous radio and television personality, was born in Newport (Jackson County). A well-known television and communications pioneer, as well as a proponent of the new music style called rock and roll, Stephens was most famous for hosting Steve’s Show, a popular television dance program in the 1960s. Stephens was the top television personality in Arkansas from 1957 to 1961 and remained a communications specialist well into his retirement. In recognition of his pioneering achievements in broadcasting, he was inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame in October 2003, and on April 3, 2004, his name was added to the Arkansas Walk of Fame in Hot Springs (Garland County).