The seventh constitutional convention met in 1969-1970 in an attempt to reform the Arkansas Constitution, approved by the Arkansas Legislature in 1874. The seventh constitutional convention failed, and the 1874 Arkansas Constitution still remains in effect today despite additional reform attempts. Click here for more information about Arkansas’s constitutional conventions.
Interviewee: Howard Morgan Alderson
Interviewer: William Larsen
Date of Interview: July 24, 1969
Howard Alderson was elected as a city councilman for Stuttgart, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was on the General Provisions Committee.
Interviewee: Richard Sheppard Arnold
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: June 17, 1969
Richard Arnold was elected as a city councilman for Texarkana, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was on the Executive Committee and the Drafting Committee.
Interviewee: Joyce Baker
Interviewer: William Foy Lisenby
Date of Interview: June 13, 1969
Joyce Baker was elected as a city council representative for Clinton, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Interviewee: Dave Block, Jr.
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: May 29, 1969
Dave Block, Jr. was elected as a city councilman for Wynne, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was on the Administrative Committee.
Interviewee: Katherine Buchanan
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: July 29, 1969
Katherine Buchanan was elected as a city council representative for Prescott, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. She was on the Style and Drafting Committee.
Interviewee: Ohmer C. Burnside
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: July 23, 1969
Ohmer Burnside was elected as a city councilman for Lake Village, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Elections and Suffrage Committee.
Interviewee: Virgil James Butler
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 5 & 7, 1969
Virgil Butler was elected as a city councilman for Batesville, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Style and Drafting Committee.
Interviewee: Frank William Cantrell
Interviewer: William Larsen
Date of Interview: Feb. 10, 1970
Frank Cantrell was elected as a city councilman for Little Rock, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the General Provisions Committee and the Public Information Committee.
Interviewee: Richard A. Carver
Interviewer: Foy Lisenby
Date of Interview: Jan. 28, 1970
Richard Carver was elected as a city councilman for Mena, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the County Government Committee.
Interviewee: Clifford Cole
Interviewer: Pat Barker
Date of Interview: June 24, 1969
Clifford Cole was elected as a city councilman for Piggott, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Legislative Committee.
Interviewee: James C. Cole
Interviewer: William A. Larsen
Date of Interview: Aug. 13, 1969
James Cole was elected as a city councilman for Malvern, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served on the Judicial Branch Committee.
Interviewee: E. Harley Cox, Jr.
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 6, 1969
E. Harley Cox, Jr. was elected as a city councilman for Pine Bluff, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was the chairman of the Judicial Branch Committee.
Interviewee: Dalton J. Dailey
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: July 10, 1969
Dalton Dailey was elected as a city councilman for Little Rock, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Interviewee: Boyce R. Davis
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: July 14, 1969
Boyce Davis was elected as a city councilman for Lincoln, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Public Information Committee, the County Government Committee, and the Schedule and Transitions Committee.
Interviewee: G. Byron Dobbs
Interviewer: Pat Barker
Date of Interview: July 10,1969
Byron Dobbs was elected as a city councilman for Fort Smith, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a chairman on the Judicial Branch Committee.
Interviewee: Garnett Thomas Eisele
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Feb. 18, 1970
Garnett Eisele was elected as a city councilman for Hot Springs, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Interviewee: John D. Eldridge
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 4, 1969
John Eldridge was elected as a city councilman for Augusta, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Legislative Committee and the Rules Committee.
Interviewee: John W. Elrod
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 5, 1969
John Elrod was elected as a city councilman for Rison, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Administrative Committee and the General Provisions Committee.
Interviewee: Lewis E. Epley, Jr.
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 12, 1969
Lewis Epley was elected as a city councilman for Eureka Springs, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Municipality Committee.
Interviewee: William H. Etter
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: July 14, 1969
William Etter was elected as a city councilman for Washington, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Committee on Revenue and Taxation.
Interviewee: Eudora N. Fields
Interviewer: Pat Barker
Date of Interview: June 19, 1969
Eudora Fields was elected as a city council representative for Malvern, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Interviewee: Charles Davis Frierson III
Interviewer: Carolyn P. Williams
Date of Interview: Aug. 5, 1969
Charles Frierson was elected as a city councilman for Jonesboro, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Executive Branch Committee.
Interviewee: William Fadjo Gravens, Jr.
Interviewer: Carolyn T. Williams
Date of Interview: July 29, 1969
William Gravens was elected as a city councilman for Fort Smith, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served on the General Provisions Committee as well as the Public Information Committee.
Interviewee: John P. Gill
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Sept. 9, 1970
John Gill was elected as a city council representative for Little Rock, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was the chairman of the Local Government Committee.
Interviewee: John Lloyd Godley
Interviewer: Pat Barker
Date of Interview: July 13, 1969
John Godley was elected as a city councilman for Osceola, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Suffrage and Elections Committee.
Interviewee: Harry A. Haines
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: June 6, 1970
Harry Haines was elected as a city councilman for Blytheville, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a part of the Municipal Government Committee and the Public Information Committee.
Interviewee: Otis Parnell Hammons
Interviewer: Foy Lisenby
Date of Interview: July 28, 1969
Otis Hammons was elected as a city councilman for Forrest City, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Executive Committee.
Interviewee: Arthur H. Hays
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: July 25, 1969
Arthur Hays was elected as a city councilman for Little Rock, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the General Provisions Committee.
Interviewee: E.J. Hosey
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Jan. 14, 1970
E.J. Hosey was elected as a city councilman for Marvell, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Finance and Taxation Committee.
Interviewee: Beth Hough
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: July 8, 1969
Beth Hough was elected as a city council representative for Rogers, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Speaker: Hubert H. Humphrey
Date of Speech: Aug. 20, 1969
Subject: Remarks of the honorable Hubert H. Humphrey before the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Interviewee: Mark Perrin Jones III
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: June 19, 1969
Mark Jones III was elected as a city councilman for Searcy, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Interviewee: Billy Lindsey
Interviewer: Stephen Ray Wood
Date of Interview: July 28, 1969
Billy Lindsey was elected as a city councilman for Caldwell, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Finance and Taxation Committee.
Interviewee: David Leonard Lingo
Interviewer: Simms McClintock
Date of Interview: July 8, 1969
David Lingo was elected as a city councilman for Walnut Ridge, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was assigned to the County Government Committee.
Interviewee: Gail Matthews
Interviewer: William Larsen
Date of Interview: Jan. 28, 1970
Gail Matthews was elected as a city councilman for North Little Rock, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was assigned to the Judicial Committee and the Liaison Committee to the Declaration of Rights.
Interviewee: Dan McCraw
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 7, 1969
Dan McCraw was elected as a city councilman for Hot Springs, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served on the Executive Committee and the Administrative Committee.
Interviewee: Shirley E. McFarlin
Interviewer: Tom Dillard
Date of Interview: Jan. 19, 1972
Shirley McFarlin was elected as a city council representative for Little Rock, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. She was a member of the Executive Committee.
Interviewee: Robert Meriwether
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: June 25, 1969
Robert Meriwether was elected as a city councilman for Conway, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served as the chairman for the Declaration of Rights Committee.
Interviewee: Henry C. Morris
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 11, 1969
Henry Morris was elected as a city councilman for DeQueen, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served on the Judicial Branch Committee.
Interviewee: Cecil B. Nance, Jr.
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 4, 1969
Cecil Nance was elected as a city council representative for West Memphis, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Judicial Branch Committee, the Administrative Committee, and the Agenda Committee.
Interviewee: William C. Norman
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: July 28, 1969
William Norman was elected as a city councilman for Crossett, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was the chairman of the Committee on Finance and Taxation and a member of the Administration Committee.
Interviewee: Merle Peterson
Interviewer: Catherine Moorhead
Date of Interview: July 28, 1969
Merle Peterson was elected as a city council representative for Dumas, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the General Provisions Committee.
Interviewee: William Ira Prewett
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 13, 1969
William Prewett was elected as a city councilman for El Dorado, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was the chairman of the General Provisions Committee.
Interviewee: David Pryor
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Nov. 7, 1969
David Pryor was elected as a city councilman of Camden, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Interviewee: Charles Nichol Rose
Interviewer: William A. Larson
Date of Interview: Aug. 21, 1969
Charles Rose was elected as a city councilman for Blytheville, Arkansas. He was a member of the Finance and Taxation Committee.
Interviewee: Nick Rose
Interviewer: William Larsen
Date of Interview: Aug. 21, 1969
Nick Rose was elected as a city councilman for Blytheville, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served on the Finance and Taxation Committee.
Interviewee: Jim A. Ross, Jr.
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 21, 1969 & Jan. 12, 1970
Jim Ross, Jr. was elected as a city councilman for Monticello, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served as the chairman for the Rules Committee and was a member of the Judicial Branch Committee.
Interviewee: Pete Rudolph
Interviewer: Foy Lisenby
Date of Interview: Aug. 12, 1969
Pete Rudolph was elected as a city councilman for Gurdon, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Executive Branch Committee.
Interviewee: Dr. J. Aubrey Sanders
Interviewer: Foy Lisenby
Date of Interview: July 17, 1969
Dr. J. Sanders was elected as a city councilman for Waldron, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served on the County Committee.
Interviewee: Bill J. Scott
Interviewer: Foy Lisenby
Date of Interview: Aug. 20, 1969
Bill Scott was elected as a city councilman for Hamburg, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Judicial Branch Committee.
Interviewee: Vance Scurlock
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: July 22, 1969
Vance Scurlock was elected as a city councilman for Jonesboro, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Finance and Taxation Committee.
Interviewee: John Ira Smith
Interviewer: Carolyn Williams
Date of Interview: July 22, 1969
John Smith was elected as a city councilman for Fayetteville, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Committee of Executive Officers.
Interviewee: Quinby Smith
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: July 8, 1969
Quinby Smith was elected as a city councilman for Mountain Home, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the County Government Committee.
Interviewee: David Solomon
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 24, 1970
David Solomon was elected as a city councilman for Helena, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served on the Judicial Branch Committee and the Style and Drafting Committee.
Interviewee: Dabbs Sullivan
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 5, 1970
Dabbs Sullivan was elected as a city councilman for Little Rock, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served on the Legislative Committee.
Interviewee: Hays Sullivan
Interviewer: Pat Barker
Date of Interview: Aug. 5, 1969
Hays Sullivan was elected as a city councilman for Burdette, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Executive Branch Committee.
Interviewee: Cecil Andrew Tedder, Jr.
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: July 25, 1969
Cecil Tedder, Jr. was elected as a city councilman for Searcy, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Municipal Government Committee and the Style and Drafting Committee.
Interviewee: Raymond Hoyt Thornton, Jr.
Interviewer: William Foy Lisenby
Date of Interview: Aug. 6, 1969
Raymond Thornton, Jr. was elected as a city councilman for Sheridan, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He served as chairman of the Executive Branch Committee.
Interviewee: C.H.Turk
Interviewer: Foy Lisenby
Date of Interview: Feb. 10, 1970
C. H. Turk was elected as a city councilman for Sherrill, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Municipal Committee.
Interviewee: Rice Lee Van Ausdall
Interviewer: Pat Barker
Date of Interview: Aug. 12, 1969
Rice Van Ausdall was elected as a city councilman for Harrisburg, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the General Provisions Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Style and Drafting Committee.
Interviewee: Rev. Robert M. Van Hook II
Interviewer: Cathy Moorehead
Date of Interview: July 22, 1969
Rev. Robert Van Hook II was elected as a city councilman for Bryant, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Suffrage and Elections Committee and the Schedule and Transition Committee.
Interviewee: C. Randolph Warner, Jr.
Interviewer: Gay Moore
Date of Interview: July 17, 1969
C. Warner, Jr. was elected as a city councilman for Fort Smith, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was one of the vice chairmen on the Administrative Committee and a member of the Finance and Taxation Committee.
Interviewee: Colonel Norman Warnock
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy W. Moore
Date of Interview: June 25, 1969
Colonel Norman Warnock was elected as a city councilman for Camden, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He voted against the Arkansas Constitutional Convention and thought that the constitution did not need rewriting.
Interviewee: Field K. Wasson
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Aug. 6, 1969
Field Wasson was elected as a city councilman for Siloam Springs, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Election and Suffrage Committee.
Interviewee: Samuel A. Weems
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: July 24, 1969
Samuel Weems was elected as a city councilman for Des Arc, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Administrative Committee and the General Provisions Committee.
Interviewee: Paul X. Williams
Interviewer: Dr. Waddy Moore
Date of Interview: Feb. 10, 1970
Paul Williams was elected as a city councilman for Booneville, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the Judicial Branch Committee.
Interviewee: Nick Wilson
Interviewer: Pat Barker
Date of Interview: July 8, 1969
Nick Wilson was elected as a city councilman for Pocahontas, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the County Government Committee.
Interviewee: Herbert B. Wren
Interviewer: Foy Lisenby
Date of Interview: July 10, 1969
Herbert Wren was elected as a city councilman for Texarkana, Arkansas at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.