May 8, 1931

Ash Flat (Sharp County) was incorporated. A group of residents, led by postmaster James McCord, chose the name Ash Flat because of a nearby grove of ash trees. In addition to its important contributions to Arkansas agriculture, Ash Flat also produced a noted educator and a renowned athlete. Born in 1906 in Ash Flat, David W. Mullins served as president of the University of Arkansas (UA) in Fayetteville (Washington County) from 1960 to 1974. Another Ash Flat native made important contributions to major league baseball. Left-handed pitcher Charles Elwin “Preacher” Roe, born in 1915, won 127 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers, and St. Louis Cardinals between the years 1938 and 1953.