Oral History

Martha Bentley
10/05/2024

An Oral History of Martha Bentley by Vicky Crouch

Table Of Contents
  • Martha's parents :20
  • Beginning of Marshall Wholesale to present 2:54
  • Stories of Martha's father 7:30
  • Martha's first horse 10:15
  • How Martha and Larry met 1957; 11:48
  • Love of gardening 14:35
  • Water Carnival history 16:01
  • Teaching 27 years Mt Pleasant/Newark 19:25
  • Travels/Horsewomen group 28:18
  • Biggest impression/advice from someone 31:54
  • Close family/new dog 34:20
  • Batesville growth and development 37:20
Mayor Rick Elumbaugh
10/04/2024

An Oral History Interview of Rick Elumbaugh by Dr. Bruce Johnston

Table Of Contents
  • Growing up in Batesville/Main Street :29
  • School memories in Batesville and Jonesboro 7:24
  • First Employment after college/Public school teacher/Manager of Batesville City Pools 15:40
  • Mayor/Municipal League/Why Politics? 22:30
  • Economic Development 26:48
  • Idea for Christmas Capital of Arkansas 30:37
  • Main Street Area/Recreational Interests 32:30
  • Business Development in Batesville 42:00
Ralph Grant
12/11/2024
An Oral History Interview of Ralph Grant by Twyla Wright
Table Of Contents
  • Born in 1947- Batesville; Grandfather- Bly Osborne, Grandmother-Viola Lexion Osbourne; Mother- Ann Osborne :15
  • Miller High School and Graduation :40
  • Athletics 2:28
  • Growing up on grandfather's acreage on Davis Lane- West Batesville 3:00
  • 8 siblings and childhood 3:26
  • Segregation 5:20
  • Grandfather's work/rules about behavior 5:56
  • Mother's work domestic/Batesville Manufacturing 9:00
  • Cousins 10:11
  • Miller School/Choir 11:24
  • Vietnam/enlistment of Black men 12:56
  • Experience as a Black soldier/ medical specialist/medical staff/hospital counselor 13:53
  • Marriage/father of Tim/divorce/retired from military 18:40
  • Move back to Batesville in 1990 22:05
  • Siblings and Mother24:00
  • College Education 27:38
  • 18 years at Batesville Post Office 31:16
  • Life philosophy 35:34
  • Extended family in Batesville and Texas 40:09
  • Church as child in Bethel AME, religious thoughts 41:24
  • Life today/race relations 44:36
Sheila Avant
03/02/2024

An Oral History Interview of Sheila Avant by Twyla Wright

Table Of Contents
  • Sheila Wells: Birth, family history, growing up :01
  • Summer in Dry Run w/ her grandmother 2:30
  • Life in New York City 4:21
  • Moved across NYC in 6th grade 8:22
  • Sheila's mother Mary- occupation, schooling and the "Jaynets" 9:05
  • Wills not Wells; Mary moving to NYC and attending the School of Performing Arts 14:00
  • Moving to Batesville in 1976; West Elementary 18:40
  • First bitter taste of racism in Batesville 23:43
  • Black students segregated themselves in school and on bus 26:13
  • Meeting future husband, James "Tony" Avant in Miller Gym/courtship 31:40
  • Earning GED/certificate in Data Processing/ working for 1st Community Bank 42:17
  • Sheila and Tony's daughters, grandchildren, and challenges 44:26
  • Dry Run then and now 49:33
  • Care of black hair from babyhood on, including corn rows, straightening, wigs, prejudice against black hair 52:05
  • Hope for the future; Fear of "white washing" history 1:07:00
Ted Hall
25/07/2024

An Oral History Interview of Ted Hall by Twyla Wright

Table Of Contents
  • Birth in MO; family history :01
  • Siblings, grandparents 2:22
  • Family activities/1st Baptist church-MO 5:05
  • High school student in Missouri 6:45
  • Sports, Ouachita College Life 8:52
  • Arkansas State University- post graduate 11:19
  • Park Ranger- Greer's Ferry/Children and their jobs 13:53
  • Marriage to Janie (King)/birth of children 16:05
  • Employed by Dagley and Associates/recruiting for AR College 17:59
  • Principal of Sulphur Rock High School 22:20
  • Southside High School vice principal (doubled enrollment) 24:10
  • Freedom of School Choice- results for Southside and Batesville Schools 27:00
  • Southside Schools Asst. Superintendent/Superintendent 30:00
  • Batesville Schools Superintendent-9 years 34:24
  • Worked for 1st Community Bank- business development 47:50
  • Executive Director of White River Area Agency on Aging/National Board 51:45
  • Monitors 18 Area on Aging Centers in 10 counties 1:01:48
  • Development of 1st Baptist Church on Eagle Mountain 1:06:20
  • Vacationing with family/working with Christmas Brings Hope 1:07:30
  • Advice for others 1:11:16

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