The statue of Johnny Cash was lowered into position early Tuesday at the atg Pavilion in North Little Rock. All photos: Michael Hibblen
Before dawn Tuesday, a crane lifted an 8-foot-tall bronze statue of Johnny Cash — an exact replica of the one representing Arkansas in the U.S. Capitol — onto a pedestal at a newly constructed pavilion in North Little Rock.
After working with a crew to adjust its position, sculptor Kevin Kresse got on his knees to help bolt the statue in place. Among those assisting were several people who have spent years working to make the project a reality.
As the sun began to rise, the group applauded the completion of a key part of the project ahead of Friday’s grand opening of the atg Pavilion at the plaza being renamed the Argenta Music Complex.
The Cash statue will serve as an anchor on the west side of the pavilion, facing Main Street. Eventually, the pavilion will house 21 sculptures honoring 20 musicians and music industry executive Al Bell. Their work helped shape American music across genres including classical, blues, gospel, country, soul and rock.
Standing behind the statue, which features a guitar slung across Cash’s back, Kresse was asked how the setting compared with the U.S. Capitol, where the original was unveiled in September 2024.
“It’s outside, it’s in my hometown. In the Capitol, he’s up against a column, so this is actually one of my favorite views, from behind — such an iconic Johnny Cash view here. And then I love that the moon’s up above with the sunrise,” Kresse said, looking toward the sky. “This is special. Incredibly special.”
The six busts installed Tuesday were first arranged on the floor with a diagram showing how each would be secured to its pedestal.
Workers then brought out six wrapped bronze busts Kresse created of Glen Campbell, Al Green, Levon Helm, Louis Jordan, Florence Price and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, which were placed atop their pedestals. Etched on the back of each bust are the musician’s name, birth and death years, and an outline of Arkansas with a star marking the person’s hometown.
Plaques identifying the honorees are also being installed, providing visitors with information about the musicians, including those whose sculptures are not part of the first group being unveiled.
Eventually, likenesses of Big Bill Broonzy, Albert King, Jimmy Driftwood, Lefty Frizzell, Ronnie Hawkins, Scott Joplin, Charlie Rich, Granny Almeda Riddle, Pharoah Sanders, William Grant Still, Conway Twitty, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin’ Wolf will be added.
John Gaudin, the project’s campaign chair, said the pavilion will be an important addition to the neighborhood where he has lived and worked for years.
“I see it as a real gem in the crown in the arts district,” Gaudin said. “From an economic and tourism development perspective, that was a big deal for me to get involved in it.”
His friendship with Kresse and admiration for his work also played a role.
“I think he’s one of the top sculptors in the country, and to be able to have the ability to showcase some of his work, it was just hard to kind of pass up for me to not get involved,” Gaudin said.
At one point Tuesday, Kresse’s wife, Bridget, noted that it was Gaudin’s birthday, prompting the group to sing “Happy Birthday” to him.
John Gaudin and Greg Spradlin examine the bust of drummer and singer Levon Helm after it was placed on a pedestal Tuesday. Born in Elaine, Arkansas, Helm became best known as a member of The Band.
Kevin Kresse adjusts the placement of his bust of Louis Jordan, who was born in Brinkley and became a popular jazz and jump blues saxophonist, singer and bandleader from the 1930s through the 1950s.
Kresse traces the origins of the project to 2018, when he unveiled a bust of Helm in Marvell. That experience led him to consider how many other influential Arkansas musicians had received relatively little recognition in their home communities.
Working with musician Greg Spradlin and radio host Stephen Koch, Kresse began developing a broader effort to honor the state’s musical heritage.
An important component of the project is a plan to create duplicate bronze busts for installation in the musicians’ hometowns or communities closely associated with them.
Cash grew up in Dyess, Helm was from Marvell, Campbell was born in Billstown near Delight, and Tharpe was born in Cotton Plant. Other communities with connections to the honorees include Brinkley, Pine Bluff, Forrest City, Helena, El Dorado, Mountain View and Texarkana.
Gaudin said the first communities expected to receive sculptures are Pine Bluff and Brinkley, potentially next spring.
Spradlin said he was pleased to see this phase of the project nearing completion after years of discussions.
“It’s amazing. It’s finally happening, you know, something that Kevin’s been talking about for a long time, and we’ve been talking about for a long time,” Spradlin said. “I don’t think it could be more perfect than it is where it is right now, and that it’s finally happening. It’s a dream come true.”
Kevin Kresse positions his bust of Forrest City native Al Green on a pedestal Tuesday. Green became one of the most successful soul singers of the 1970s, writing and recording a string of hits.
Born in Little Rock, Florence Price became a pioneering classical composer and the first Black woman to have a composition performed by a major American symphony orchestra.
Spradlin said working with Kresse on the Helm memorial inspired them to find ways to honor additional legendary Arkansas musicians.
“I’ve been crawling around graveyards since I was 16 years old, following the music and the musicians, and think that Arkansas has never really acknowledged the icons that we’ve produced for the world,” Spradlin said. “The fact that they’re getting a home here, it’s tremendous.”
The approximately $3 million project broke ground May 11 and was developed through a partnership involving North Little Rock Tourism, the nonprofit Argenta Arts Foundation and private supporters.
Scott and Ruth Landers, owners of Applied Technology Group, are among the principal backers, and the pavilion is named for their company. North Little Rock Tourism funded construction of the pavilion, while private donations are paying for the sculptures.
Construction has progressed rapidly in recent months, with workers assembling an elaborate steel structure that required welding during the hottest part of the summer, when temperatures were hovering around 100 degrees.
Workers assemble the steel framework of the pavilion Sept. 6.
With the temperature around 100 degrees, a worker welds steel beams together during construction of the pavilion Sept. 6.
Kresse said his original vision for the pavilion was considerably different from the structure now standing. He initially suggested something resembling a barn to reflect the humble beginnings of many of the musicians being honored.
As the design evolved, the pavilion took on what he described as the appearance of a church or temple, with the sculptures elevated above ground level.
“To me, it’s almost a perfect metaphor for their lives, starting off very simply, humbly, in so many of these small towns in Arkansas, and [they] went out and influenced the world,” Kresse said. “And then you see their influence in so many of the musicians coming behind them.”
The structure, he said, is a fitting tribute to artists whose accomplishments have not always received the recognition they deserve in their home state.
“To put these artists on a pedestal, metaphorically, and know that they really deserve this type of honor,” Kresse said.
One mistake was discovered on the pedestal where the Cash statue was placed Tuesday. The pedestal is identical to the one in the U.S. Capitol, featuring lyrics from the song “Man in Black” on one side and a quotation on the other, but Cash’s birth year was incorrectly listed as 1935. He was born in 1932.
It’s unclear how the mistake occurred, but Kresse was unfazed, saying such errors happen.
“It will get fixed, so I’m not worried about it. Those are small potatoes in the big scheme of things,” Kresse said. “That’s fixable and, you know, it’s not like the bronze and he’s missing a hand or anything like that.”
Organizers said the error likely will not be corrected in time for Friday’s ceremony.
Kresse said initial plans called for unveiling subsequent busts in groups once a year, but they now may be installed in pairs as he completes them.
“We’ll keep adding to the menu, and then word of mouth can spread about this really cool thing that’s happening in Argenta,” Kresse said.
Duplicate castings of the initial busts have already been made for hometown installations, he said, although a second Florence Price bust is not being produced during the first round.
Kevin Kresse marks where the bust of Pike County native Glen Campbell will be secured to its pedestal. An identical bust is planned for the Delight Branch Library in Campbell’s hometown.
A bust of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who grew up in Cotton Plant and became a pioneering gospel singer and guitarist whose music helped shape rock ‘n’ roll. An identical bust is planned for Cotton Plant.
Sculptures of Big Bill Broonzy and Albert King are at the foundry Kresse uses to cast his work, he said, while he is about halfway through creating the clay model of Howlin’ Wolf.
Kresse hopes the hometown installations will encourage communities to develop additional attractions celebrating their musical connections.
“Hopefully that’s not gonna be, you know, the end-all, be-all,” he said. “It’ll hopefully just be a catalyst for more things to happen in the towns.”
He said the arrival of tourists could encourage communities to expand beyond the sculptures.
“It’s like anything, you gotta take a first step, and then I think if they see tourists coming, they’ll want to do more to accommodate that and build up.”
Organizers also envision expanding the educational aspects of the North Little Rock pavilion, potentially including programs for children and a museum devoted to Arkansas music.
“I’m just dreaming again, you know, but have a museum for Arkansas music,” Kresse said. “Really expand upon this cultural gold mine that we’ve been sitting with.”
Gaudin said fundraising continues for the pavilion, the hometown installations and the broader Arkansas Music Trail.
For Kresse, the project has grown far beyond what he initially imagined.
“It’s just so much bigger than what I was originally dreaming of,” he said. “That’s what really can catch me off guard and kind of take my breath away sometimes.”
The grand opening will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday and will also mark the reopening of the Argenta Music Complex. North Little Rock Tourism says the celebration will include live music, food trucks, family-friendly activities and interactive exhibits.
Veteran reporter, editor and manager at newspapers, radio and television stations. I’m also a photographer, historian and author, having written the 2017 book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
Sculptor Kevin Kresse speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the atg Pavilion at Argenta Plaza in North Little Rock. Photo: Michael Hibblen
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday in North Little Rock for a pavilion in Argenta Plaza that will eventually house statues and busts of influential musicians who emerged from Arkansas. Artist Kevin Kresse, best known for crafting an eight-foot-tall bronze statue of Johnny Cash for the U.S. Capitol, is making the sculptures of 20 musicians who span a broad range of genres, along with Stax Records executive Al Bell.
The first group will be unveiled in September, Kresse said, and will include a replica of the Cash statue using the same mold. Others will be Levon Helm, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Al Green, Glen Campbell, Louis Jordan and Florence Price. Subsequent unveiling ceremonies will take place each year until all 21 statues or busts are on display. In addition to the busts being placed in the pavilion, a second casting will be made of each which will be placed in the hometowns of the musicians.
“It’s something that I’ve been dreaming about for so long that it’s almost surreal that this day is here,” Kresse said in an interview before the ceremony. “It’s the beginning of what I see as a longer adventure with this being the beginning of it. But I see this spreading out around the entire state eventually, hopefully moving on to educational components for kids and everything too.”
Attending the event were private financial donors, state and local tourism officials, representatives of the communities the musicians are from and some of the musicians’ family members. The pavilion is being named after Applied Technology Group, which is headquartered a few blocks away and is owned by Scott and Ruth Landers. The $3 million project is a partnership between North Little Rock Tourism and the nonprofit Argenta Arts Foundation.
“This project will move the needle on tourism not just in the Argenta Arts District, but throughout the state, as well,” said John Goudin, who is the project’s campaign chair. To the financial backers, he said “they’ve never blinked from day one on this project, so thank you all so much.”
Also at the ceremony were Glen Campbell’s youngest sister Sandi Campbell Brink and cousin Steve Campbell, who still lives in Pike County. Glen Campbell was born in the community of Billstown, near Delight, which is also where he was laid to rest in his family’s cemetery after his death in 2017.
Steve Campbell said the second cast of the statue will be placed in a room at the Delight Branch Library. In the meantime, he said in an interview that he’s painting the room and preparing materials that will be placed in there.
“The heritage of music in Arkansas is totally unbelievable. When you start looking at the people that came out of Arkansas and made it so well, it influenced the entire world of music. So Glen being part of it, it thrills us to the core. But all of the others, as well, that there are parts of it, where just the whole nucleus stretches out to the entire state.”
Kresse says the idea of creating a series of statues came to him in 2018 while driving back from the city of Marvell where he had unveiled a bust of Levon Helm, drummer for The Band. He said he had a list in his head of artists he wanted to honor, then began working with radio host Stephen Koch of “Arkansongs” and musician Greg Spradlin. Koch and Spradlin had been working on getting highways named for some of the musicians. But the project was put on hold when Kresse was commissioned for the Cash statue in the U.S. Capitol. Once that was unveiled on Sept. 24, 2024, he then began talking again with Goudin.
The goal, Kresse said Monday, was “for everyone in Arkansas to see the huge cultural impact that the music has had on the whole world and for them to get a real sense of pride of that.”
Also at the ceremony was Jimmy Cunningham, director of tourism development for the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission. Compared to the neighboring states of Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, he said Arkansas is late in promoting its musical heritage.
“Arkansas’ got such an incredible, incredible music history, with so many greats, so many giants, and so many contributions, but we haven’t curated our narrative. And so, you know, if nobody else tells the story, how is it gonna get out? We gotta do it ourselves,” Cunningham said.
“I’m excited about it because I think Arkansas needs to celebrate its music. It needs to tell the world how important that music is, and this is one way to do it.”
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis said the pavilion will become a key stop along the Arkansas Music Trail, giving travelers a place to connect to the state’s musician legacy while also boosting economic tourism.
“When visitors come here to see the 21 different busts,” he said, “they’ll stay and explore our restaurants, shops, and the riverfront that North Little Rock has to offer. It’s the power of tourism. It drives our foot traffic, supports small businesses, it strengthens our overall communities, as well as quality of life. It’s what makes Arkansas special, our creativity, our culture, the warm, welcome people that they feel when they arrive.”
Below is the complete list of artists being honored and the cities where second castings of statues and busts will be placed:
Al Bell — North Little Rock
Big Bill Broonzy — Pine Bluff
Glen Campbell — Delight
Johnny Cash –- Dyess
Jimmy Driftwood — Mountain View
Lefty Frizzell — El Dorado
Al Green — Forrest City
Ronnie Hawkins — Fayetteville
Levon Helm — Marvell
Scott Joplin — Texarkana
Louis Jordan — Brinkley
Albert King — Osceola
Florence Price — Little Rock
Charlie Rich — Colt
Granny Almeda Riddle — Heber Springs
Pharoah Sanders — North Little Rock
William Grant Still — Little Rock
Sister Rosetta Tharpe — Cotton Plant
Conway Twitty — Helena
Sonny Boy Williamson — Helena
Howlin’ Wolf — West Memphis
This story was published by Talk Business & Politics on May 11 and will run in upcoming issues of The Pine Bluff Commercial and The Glenwood Herald.
Veteran reporter, editor and manager at newspapers, radio and television stations. I’m also a photographer, historian and author, having written the 2017 book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
After more than a year of work, artist Kevin Kresse says he expects to finish a mural on the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas building in North Little Rock by the end of this weekend. He has been a familiar sight for drivers passing by on Main Street during late afternoon and evening hours once the sun sinks behind the large brick structure.
Kevin Kresse looks at his Boys and Girls Club mural in North Little Rock on Friday, June 15, 2024. All photos: Michael Hibblen
Kresse works alone, often hoisted in the air by a piece of heavy equipment while painting images and words of inspiration with a brush. The project began in May 2023, with breaks of a few months each when the weather got too hot last summer and too cold last winter.
“God knows how many hours I have in it though — I would be afraid to find out,” he said. “I like it, I’m proud of it. I played basketball here as a kid, grew up like seven blocks away. It feels good to leave something in the community I grew up in.”
Before Kresse began the project, the building alongside a bridge that crosses the Union Pacific rail yard was stark and bare. With the entrance and parking lot on the opposite side from Main Street, for those passing by on the busy thoroughfare, the building looked void of life. But now it features dramatic images of people in front of skies of clouds and stars.
On the east side of the building, two kids are shown sitting with books in their laps — one fully engrossed by what she’s reading, the other with his head back, eyes closed and a big smile. Between them, both emerge from a point in a swirl, flying through the air in capes with their fists outstretched. The boy is wearing a graduation cap and gown, while the girl is wearing scrubs and a stethoscope. Underneath them, while I was visiting with Kevin, he was another layer of color to the words “Knowledge IS POWER” with three exclamation points for emphasis.
Kevin Kresse adds another layer of paint to the words “Knowledge IS POWER!!!”
Part of the east side of the Boys and Girls Club building.
Separated by a Boys and Girls Club logo, a young woman is shown bouncing a volleyball that looks like the moon in a nighttime sky. On the north side of the building, a young woman is swimming, arms blurred in motion, hair spread out, with a look of bliss on her face. Below her is the Arkansas River along with the Broadway and Main Street bridges and just a hint of each city’s skylines along with the words “Dream BIG.”
Next to her on the most visible corner of the building, with the words “Be a Mentor,” is an image of Little Rock art dealer and collector Garbo Hearne of Hearne Fine Art, blowing what looks like glitter. “She was sweet enough to model for me,” Kresse said.
The goal for the mural is to convey the many activities that benefit kids inside, he says, while encouraging them to “basically dream bigger about everything. So take it and pump it up and make it a little bit more fun with magical realism.”
In addition to sports and a pool, homework tutoring and leadership training are also offered. The mural being painted coincides with the 54-year-old building undergoing repairs and upgrades.
The north side of the building features a likeness of Garbo Hearnes, along with a young woman swimming.
This is just the latest project for Kresse, who has adorned his hometown with many works of art. He painted a “Dogtown Proud” mural alongside Main Street in the Argenta District, which is a reference to the days when Little Rock reportedly would dump stray dogs in its neighboring city. He also has a Mother Earth sculpture and fountain with stone benches on 5th Street.
As part of Little Rock’s 7th Street mural under two railroad overpasses, he painted an amazing likeness of radio veteran and longtime KABF-FM 88.3 Program Director John Cain. And most notably, Kresse was selected by the state to make a statue of Johnny Cash that will represent Arkansas in the U.S. Capitol. An unveiling ceremony for that is expected to occur in September.
Veteran reporter, editor and manager at newspapers, radio and television stations. I’m also a photographer, historian and author, having written the 2017 book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
Stephan Pastis speaks at the Ron Robinson Theater in Little Rock on March 16, 2022. Photos: Michael Hibblen
Stephan Pastis, the cartoonist behind “Pearls Before Swine,” recently came through Arkansas, speaking to a packed theater with hundreds of fans in Little Rock. This has been my favorite newspaper strip for years and it was great not only being part of the event, but also interviewing Pastis for a story on KUAR and showing him some landmarks in the city.
The appearance was part of his “I just gotta get out of the house” mini-book tour, which included his first public events since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic two years earlier. In March, Pastis spoke in Tulsa, Fort Worth, then Little Rock, driving to the appearances. He allowed several days between each event so that he could take time to see things that interested him along the way. He had researched historic and noteworthy places, planning what seemed like an enviable sightseeing trip.
In advance of the event here, I interviewed Pastis via Zoom. It was fascinating being able to ask him about the inspirations for the strip, how the characters represent different aspects of his personality, and how he met his hero, “Peanuts” cartoonist Charles Schulz. Pastis got advice and encouragement at a time when he was hoping to give up being an attorney to launch the syndicated strip.
“Pearls Before Swine” debuted on Dec. 31, 2001 and, I’d say, has held up better than most other strips over the years. Through characters Rat, Pig and Goat, it very effectively addresses a wide range of topics and emotions while mixing in social commentary and being incredibly funny. He sometimes writes more simple strips that extol the joy of drinking beer or feature long winded puns, sometimes ending with self-deprecating animated cameos by the cartoonist.
In the interview, which aired on KUAR during All Things Considered a few days before the event, we discussed how he addresses current issues in the strip, especially the COVID-19 pandemic. The uncertainty and isolation presented a situation like nothing in our lifetimes. Pastis masterfully conveyed the anxiety and loneliness, as well as the uncertainty of whether society would ever be able to return to doing things as basic as going to bars and enjoying drinks with friends.
“This is the only time in my career where I knew the whole world was talking about one thing,” Pastis said. “If you don’t address that one thing, you’re not going to be very relevant.”
Before we started recording the interview, Pastis quizzed me for maybe a half hour about Arkansas and places he had heard about and was considering visiting. His curiosity was amazing. The only time Pastis had been in the state before, he said, was years earlier when he made a quick drive across the Mississippi River from Memphis just to buy beer at a liquor store in West Memphis so that he could say he had set foot in Arkansas.
Newspaper comic sections have always held a special place in my heart. As a kid, it was the first reason I started looking at newspapers. As an adult, the few strips I still make a point to read each day provide some respite after going through the serious news of the day. I also learned more about the intense loyalty of comic strip readers during my years working at the Miami Herald.
My introduction to comic strips came at an extremely young age after first seeing Charlie Brown and Snoopy on TV holiday specials. While learning to read, I started looking at the “Peanuts” comics by Schulz in the Arkansas Gazette, would check out large hardbound collections from my church library, and bought the many small inexpensive paperback books of his comics, learning the deep intricacies of the characters.
I’ve never grown out of “Peanuts” even though Schulz died decades ago. I still enjoy reading classic “Peanuts” strips that are posted to Twitter each day. In 1995, I got a tattoo of Snoopy riding a skateboard on my right arm during a visit to Richmond, Virginia. I’ve also read biographies about Schulz, watched documentaries, and even brought my daughter to see her first film in a theater when she was 3 to watch The Peanuts Movie in 2015.
Having the opportunity to talk with another cartoonist who was not only inspired by Schulz, but had also became close with Schulz and his family while being an incredible artist himself was fascinating.
On Twitter, I often like or retweet “Pearls Before Swine” strips that connect with me. One time last year I received a direct message from Pastis thanking me for one comment. Then I was surprised to get a message in February telling me he was planning a book tour that would possibly bring him to Little Rock and asking if I would like to be involved. Of course, I said sure.
He eventually lined up an appearance at the great independent bookstore Wordsworth and asked if I would interview him during the event. Within a matter of days it became apparent that this would draw a much larger crowd than Wordsworth could host, so it was wisely moved to the Central Arkansas Library System’s Ron Robinson Theater, which can seat hundreds of people. My role then shifted to introducing Pastis at the start of the event, who gave a multimedia presentation followed by audience questions, with me moving around the theater with a wireless microphone to facilitate questions.
In the days before arriving in Little Rock, Pastis wrote on Twitter that he was “meandering through Arkansas,” with visits to Texarkana, Hope, the Crater of Diamonds State Park and Hot Springs.
Photos from my journey yesterday from Texas into Arkansas, stopping in Texarkana, Hope (Clinton’s boyhood home), Crater of Diamonds State Park (people hunt for diamonds), and now Hot Springs. All en route to tonight’s event at 6:30 pm at the Ron Robinson Theater in Little Rock! pic.twitter.com/bXLkIXIwNy
When he arrived in Little Rock for the event on Wednesday, March 16, we met at the Ron Robinson Theater for a check of the equipment, then went across the street for a quick dinner. When we came back an hour later, the place was packed! I was told it was the largest audience the theater had seen for an event since before the pandemic with more than 300 people. Extra folding chairs were added in the back and the balcony was also full.
Stephan Pastis gives a multimedia presentation at the Ron Robinson Theater in Little Rock on March 16, 2022.
Pastis held the audience’s rapt attention while giving a presentation about his background and how he creates the daily strip. He then began taking questions, with no shortage of people standing up, eager to ask about many aspects of the strip or his series of Timmy Failure children’s books. I worked my way around the theater, trying to get to a diverse mix of people, including many kids who reminded me of myself as a young comic strip fan.
Pastis then spent more than an hour signing books and talking with fans. He wasn’t rushed with anyone, eagerly listening as people shared their own experiences of why the strip or books connected with them.
Afterward, in the mood for a few beers, I took him to my favorite bar, the White Water Tavern. The Little Rock landmark had nearly shut down for good during the pandemic with the family that owned the property considering tearing it down for houses to be built. But thankfully the two story bar and music venue, which has hosted performances by legendary performers, was bought by Travis Hill, who I had worked with in the 1990s at KUAR. He kept the same staff in place to continue running it.
At one point in the night, realizing what a jewel the White Water is, Pastis – noting sanctioned graffiti all over the place – asked for a Sharpie. He then went into the men’s restroom and wrote, “To the White Water Tavern… best bar in Arkansas,” and included an image of Rat with a frosty mug of beer in front of him. I had to get a photo of him putting that on the wall! Within two days Hill, who is also a fan of the strip, had clear plastic placed over the graffiti to protect it.
Stephan Pastis writes graffiti in the men’s restroom of the White Water Tavern in Little Rock, celebrating it as the “best bar in Arkansas.”
Pastis stayed in Little Rock a couple more days, so I joined him after work the following day to visit historic Central High School, which was desegregated by nine Black students in 1957. We also saw the nearby house where Daisy Bates, mentor of the Little Rock Nine, lived with her husband L.C. Bates. The house was where the students would gather before going over to Central High with a U.S. Army escort. We then went to the Arkansas State Capitol, roaming its empty halls before capping his visit to Little Rock with a dinner at Does Eat Place, one of the best known gathering spots for Arkansas politicians.
Pastis left Little Rock the next day for Eureka Springs and additional speaking appearances elsewhere in the country, including Pittsburgh and Buffalo, New York. It was great meeting him, showing him around town, and getting to know more about the person behind the strip.
Veteran reporter, editor and manager at newspapers, radio and television stations. I’m also a photographer, historian and author, having written the 2017 book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
It was great fun to again take part in the annual Six Bridges Book Festival presented over the last two weeks by the Central Arkansas Library System. During a live online session, I talked with the authors of two nonfiction works about crime in the 1800s.
Dean Jobb wrote The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream: The Hunt for a Victorian Era Serial Killer, which is a disturbing, but fascinating look at a physician who mostly targeted sex workers for poisoning. Also joining me was Dr. Courtney E. Thompson, author of An Organ of Murder: Crime, Violence, and Phrenology in 19th Century America. It delves into what for a few decades was considered a way to determine various things about people, including criminal intent, based on the shape of their heads.
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, for the second year in a row the festival was held virtually via Zoom. I was in my office at KUAR, while the authors joined me from their homes. While I miss meeting authors face-to-face and moderating sessions in-person, the online format has allowed the festival to be expanded from four to 11 days, and there are fewer concurrent events.
Festival Coordinator Brad Mooy discussed the trade offs during an interview with me on KUAR before the start of the festival.
“Of course I enjoy having authors come to Little Rock who have never been here or to the south before, but there is some convenience to the virtual aspects. The virtual festival allows us to get a few authors who might not have been available to us if it were fully in person,” Mooy said.
Veteran reporter, editor and manager at newspapers, radio and television stations. I’m also a photographer, historian and author, having written the 2017 book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
Unfortunately the COVID pandemic led to the 17th annual Six Bridges Book Festival being held virtually this year. I’ve been a regular moderator over the years for the event hosted by the Central Arkansas Library System. This year I spoke remotely with Michael Ray Taylor, author of Hidden Nature: Wild Southern Caves, on Oct. 23. It was a fascinating discussion on caves, what they can tell us about the past, his own adventures, and advice for beginners and experienced cavers.
Veteran reporter, editor and manager at newspapers, radio and television stations. I’m also a photographer, historian and author, having written the 2017 book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
This is the online home of Michael Hibblen, managing editor of Newsroom Ventures, which publishes six Arkansas newspapers. I've worked as a reporter, editor and manager for newspapers, radio and TV stations for more than three decades, with this website telling the story of my career. Also featured are outside interests I've researched. The views expressed here are my own and might not reflect those of my employers.
Released by Arcadia Publishing in 2017, Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas delves into the history of the railroad, which once had a huge footprint in Arkansas. The book features historic photos and tells the story of the Rock Island, which was shut down in March 1980. READ MORE ABOUT MY BOOK.
Preserving Rock Island Depot at Perry
Since 2017, I've been part of a group working to preserve the former Rock Island Depot at Perry, Arkansas. To keep it from being demolished, we raised money to move the depot to an adjacent lot, still alongside the tracks, which is now owned by the city. The building has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and our group has become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. LEARN MORE.
For 13 years, from May 2009 to December 2022, I worked for NPR station KUAR-FM 89.1 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. That included 10 years as News Director while continuing to anchor and report. You can read and hear reports from that time on Little Rock Public Radio's website.
