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1948 Harding Petit Jean yearbook. Names recognized.

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

I do think that I have become too interested in old yearbooks and the history that they hold.  Looking through this 1948 Harding University (then College) Petit Jean I found 4 people of interest on just one page.  Look at these professors at Harding at the time.

Harding Petit Jean 1948 professors

Let's take them from the top.  Dr. Ganus is shown as a young man who has been so beneficial to Harding all through the years.  He attended Harding and ended up running Harding as President for many years.  When I attended Harding he was President.  I see him around town now and feel proud to have him in our midst.

Now beside him is a man named Berryhill.  On over in the book it put his name in parenthesis as "Pinky" Berryhill.  I have always heard that our Berryhill Park was named after a Pinky Berryhill.  This may be that man.  Anyone know for sure?

Sadly, the next two pictures show the Stapletons.  Mrs. Stapleton was murdered several years after this picture was taken.  The person who took her life was never found and the case is supposedly still "open" after 50 years.  Her grandchildren (according to the newspaper) can't get anything about her case through FOI because it is still open.  I don't blame them for being angry and questioning whether it really is an on-going investigation.

If I am wrong about any of these observations let me know.

Comments (6)

Jeremy K. Frost
Keller Williams Realty - Dripping Springs, TX
Associate Broker, ABR,CNE,CRS,ePro,PSA,RENE,SRS

This is a fantastic property. Thank you for sharing and best of luck!

Jun 19, 2015 05:00 AM
Anonymous
Mark A.

I believe the Berryhills sold the land to the city in 1967. I found deed 304 241 that was from them to the city, and was in that area.

Jun 19, 2015 07:57 AM
#2
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Mark, do you think that is why it is named Berryhill Park?  Maybe they GAVE it to the city and that is why it is named after them, sorta like Yancy Park on the West side of Searcy?

Jun 19, 2015 09:32 AM
Anonymous
Mark A.

Maybe I should not have said anything. I cannot be sure this is the same tract, but it sure looks like it. $7,450 sell.

Jun 19, 2015 11:41 AM
#4
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

I am sure you are right, Mark.  Perhaps someone who goes back that far can tell us more.

Jun 19, 2015 10:24 PM
Don Thompson
Donthomp Associates - Sunnyvale, CA

Perrin Jones said: the Searcy baseball fields as what is now Berryhill Park in east Searcy, I remember in those early years, the men playing baseball at the corner of West Arch and College in west Searcy. There were some old wooden bleachers and I think I remember some sort of partial roof on the place. I was always told that the New York Yankees’ Bill Dickey from Kensett played his first game there. Certainly he played there.

He also said in another article:

 Little League baseball in Arkansas (Searcy received the first charter in the state) had its beginning in 1950 when M. E. “Pinky” Berryhill, a physical education instructor at Harding College, decided to establish organized baseball in Searcy, a program which would provide young boys with something to do in the summer.

Berryhill spoke to a number of businessmen in the community and received great support for the idea of a team for Searcy. By December 1950, the program was taking shape with uniforms and equipment being purchased at a cost of $1,000 for the estimated 50 boys who would take part in the program that first year.

In early 1951 the program was ready and all that Searcy needed was the charter from the national organization. That was soon received and the first game was played June 1, 1951.

My guess is the park was named Berryhill after M. E. “Pinky” Berryhill because of all the work he did for baseball on that site.

 

 

Jun 21, 2015 01:35 AM