Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Delegates Return

The 800 delegates to the 58th Arkansas Boys State held May 31-June 5 at the University of Central Arkansas highlighted their hands-on experience in self-government by electing state officials and visiting the state capitol.

In addition to organizing into parties and conducting their own elections, the Boys State heard from several of the state's elected officials, both in state and national government.

These included Congressmen Vic Snyder, Asa Hutchinson, Marion Berry and Jay Dickey, Sen. Tim Hutchinson, Attorney General Winston Bryant, Secretary of State Sharon Priest, Lt. Governor Winthrop Rockefeller and members of the state Legislature appointed to the Boys State legislative program.

The delegates capped their study by spending part of a day at the state Capitol in Little Rock.

Boys State is sponsored by the Arkansas Department of the American Legion. The first Boys State was held in 1940 and, except for a one-year suspension in 1945 because of World War II, it has been held each year since.

Doug R. Young and Phillip Harris went representing Prescott High School.

Using fictitious names for cities, counties and districts, the students elected officials such as mayors, sheriffs, representatives, etc.

Harris was elected sheriff of Womack County and Young was elected to the Partlow City Council.