February 21, 1972

Ralph Harold Snyder, who is widely credited with bringing the poultry industry to the Arkansas River Valley, died in his sleep from a heart attack. Snyder, who was born in Kansas, moved to Green Forest (Carroll County) with his family when he was young. He became a top student and student leader in high school, attended the University of Arkansas (UA) in Fayetteville (Washington County) on a scholarship, and later moved to Dardanelle (Yell County), where he established his home. He became a business and civic leader, and his Arkansas Valley Enterprises became the first wholly integrated poultry business to offer its stock for public sale.