Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night could stop the Pride of Arkansas Tour from continuing on for our second day of stops on Feb. 2. As your hosts continue to travel around the states they cannot help but be amazed by both the beauty of the areas and kindness of the residents that live there.
We hope you’ll enjoy the stories from alumni and friends we meet during our Pride of Arkansas Tour, but more importantly we encourage you to share your own story in the comments below if you live in one of the areas we have visited.
Clarksville, Arkansas
Through the eyes of Elizabeth Underwood, Associate Director of the Arkansas Alumni Association
It was a blustery afternoon, but that did not stop Patricia Barrett and Janice Peters join us for lunch on Feb. 2, which was catered by Clarksville’s own, Harvest Foods. We are thankful to First Security Bank, who graciously let us use their community room which was a great setting to hold the event.
Check out the Clarksville stop photos on Flickr
The intimate setting allowed for some great conversation. Not only were both women proud alumnae of the University of Arkansas, but we learned they also had children who are advocates of the university. Janice is the mother of Dixie Peters Stark, founding member and former chapter president of the Seattle Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association. Patricia is the mother of Chuck Barrett, the voice of the Arkansas Razorbacks. The spirit and pride for the University of Arkansas is clearly a family tradition for both women!
Harrison, Arkansas
Through the eyes of Elizabeth Underwood, Associate Director of the Arkansas Alumni Association
As we continue our Pride of Arkansas Tour to Harrison we were amazed by the beauty found in the scenery and the people of Harrison. We were graciously greeted at the 1929 Hotel Seville with open arms.
Check out the Harrison stop photos on Flickr
Don Bishop shared with us his great story of his family history with the University of Arkansas. Don’s grandfather and grandmother, J.T. and Lizzie Berry, wanted all of their children to have college degrees, something that they were not themselves afforded. They decided to sell their hotel in Canyon, Texas, and move to Arkansas where they purchased 40 acres on top of Mt. Sequoyah. They raised cows and chickens to sell milk and eggs to the community, and also to the president of the University of Arkansas. Mr. Berry told the then-president of the University, if he wanted to continue to receive his fresh eggs and milk “he better not raise tuition” … and he didn’t! Seven out of eight of Berry’s children received degrees from the University of Arkansas. Additionally, both of Don’s parents, Howard and Elizabeth Bishop, both attended the University of Arkansas. Don graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1970, where he met his wife Sherry, who also earned degrees in 1970 and 1981. Sherry Bishop’s mother and father also have degrees from the University of Arkansas. Sherry and Don have generations of University of Arkansas history, continuing on with their son who earned a degree in 2005.
Austin, Texas
Through the eyes of Carolyn Baltz, Assistant Director of the Arkansas Alumni Association
As our guests began to arrive at the Cedar Door on Feb. 2, we quickly realized that the Austin event was going to be unique. Brad Clutter was the first to arrive. Brad has been an integral part of the Austin Chapter for years. Although not everyone was able to make it out to our event the room was most definitely filled with Razorback PRIDE.
As we shared where our names were on Senior Walk, and went around our Razorback family table we soaked in many memories. Wayne Hachenburg talked about how his name was originally in front of the law school and was moved to the corner of Old Main. Melvin Weaver, husband of Robin Weaver, talked about his connection as a friend and fan of the University of Arkansas. Robin, a graduate of the Walton College of Business, shared about a trip they took to the University of Arkansas. Her memory of Senior Walk wasn’t about where her name was exactly, but she did remember her daughter playing on the sidewalk where they found her name. Both of their future Razorbacks already know the Fight Song!
James Reeves, a civil engineer, recalled surveying the Old Main lawn in the snow when he was a student there. He took his girls back to see his name on the walk and couldn’t locate it, and finally found it under some dirt that had washed over it during a rain storm. He quickly wiped it off and was proud to see his name there. Sam and Connie Pate, both alumni, met at the university. Sam received a degree in architecture, and Connie received her master’s degree and doctorate from the university. Both of them kept us laughing all night.
Check out the Austin stops photos on Flickr
Also we got to talk with Steve and Jillian Barnes, proud parents of a current freshman their daughter, who is an engineering major looking into nanotechnology. Jillian talked about their search for a great school and how they looked at so many schools in Texas and Arkansas. The Barneses both agreed that as soon as their daughter stepped foot on campus she knew she had to go to the University of Arkansas. They shared the story about one Saturday when they got a call from the College of Engineering telling them she had qualified for a scholarship and they danced around the kitchen when they heard the news. They are also grateful recipients of an Alumni scholarship and stressed that they believe scholarships are not a one-way gift. They are an open door to pay it forward.
Brad shared that as a loyal volunteer to the Association as a chapter leader, he is actually a Texas graduate. He was raised in Searcy and was fortunate to go to all Razorback games with a family friend who purchased a season ticket for him. He will always be a proud Razorback and support us through and through. Wendell and Lee Ann Weatherford also talked about their time in school at the University of Arkansas, which was interrupted by the Vietnam War, and how they’ve moved all over the world, but are still proud Razorbacks. Wendell completed his degree in 1964.
This group of Austin alumni and friends were filled with wonderful stories from the Hill. For some in our crowd, this was their first Alumni Association event and they plan to return to more in the future. We were excited that all of our attendees were members of the Arkansas Alumni Association.
Come Share Your Stories With Us!
Do you have a story or campus memory you’d like to share with us and fellow alumni? Make plans to join us at one of our next Pride of Arkansas Tour Stops near you today or share your own story in the comments below if you live in one of the areas we have visited.
