By EMMA BROWN | City of Arkadelphia
Arkadelphia is one of Arkansas’s Trendsetter Cities once again.
The City of Arkadelphia was named the winner of Arkansas Business’s Diversity and Inclusion category for cities with a population between 5,000-20,000 for its Black History Month programming.
About the program
In February 2023, a dream came to fruition in Arkadelphia. City leaders had long discussed ways to better honor Arkadelphia’s Black history. After months of deliberation, city officials decided to establish a Hall of Fame-style program. Each year, a new group of individuals would be selected for recognition, with each honoree receiving a banner featuring their likeness and accomplishments displayed in the city’s downtown. The individuals would also be celebrated in a ceremony held in early February.
The nominating committee
Under the leadership of Assistant Mayor Roland Gosey as Chairman, a group of distinguished Black leaders in Arkadelphia assembled to form the city’s Black History Month Nominating Committee. The members of this committee were selected for their contributions to the fields of education, entrepreneurship, enrichment, politics, and business in Arkadelphia and the surrounding areas.
The nominating committee meets in the summer to propose names for the candidate pool. Anonymous voting begins in August, during which the committee narrows the pool from over 45 candidates to 20-25. A second round of voting takes place in September, with a third round in October if needed.
Once the honorees are selected, they and/or their families are notified. The committee then begins planning the recognition ceremony alongside city officials.
“Arkadelphia’s Black History Month program is a year-round project for our nominating committee and city staff,” Assistant Mayor Roland Gosey said. “Watching this program grow has been both humbling and fulfilling. I am incredibly proud of the work we’re doing and honored that Arkadelphia has been recognized as a Trendsetter City.”
2023 Honorees
In 2023, the nominating committee honored its first class of Black History Month Honorees. The inaugural class consisted 12 honorees, many of whom who were the “first” to achieve their respective accomplishment.
The 2023 Class of Black History Month Honorees includes:
- Mary Nell Clay, First Black Female Principal in the Arkadelphia Public School District
- Marth Dixon, Author and Entrepreneur in Arkadelphia
- Carolyn Green, First Black Graduate from Ouachita Baptist University
- Maurice Horton, Sr., First Black Graduate from Henderson State University
- Sergeant James Middleton, First Black Police Officer and First Black Sergeant in Arkadelphia
- Terry Nelson, First Professional Football Player from Arkadelphia
- John Edward Peake, Arkansas Educator and Namesake for Peake Schools in Arkadelphia
- Ann Sanders, First Black Female City Board Member in Arkadelphia
- Reverend A. William Terry, Community Pastor and Activist in Arkadelphia during
Integration - Eula Thomas, First Black Chamber of Commerce Member in Arkadelphia
- James Williams, First Black Board Member and First Black Mayor of Arkadelphia
- Henry Wilson, Former Clark County NAACP President and Activist from Arkadelphia
2024 Honorees
In 2024, the nominating honored its second class of Black History Month Honorees. The 2024 class featured 10 individuals who were from or contributed to the Arkadelphia community. The 2024 Class of Black History Month Honorees includes:
• Annie Abrams, Activist from Arkadelphia
• Ione Bynum, Owner of the First Black Childcare Center in Arkadelphia
• Ida Feaster, Namesake for Arkadelphia’s Feaster Park
• Carrol D. Forte, First Black Administrator in the Arkadelphia Public School District
• Raymond Green, First Black Bank Board Member in Arkadelphia
• Dr. Kenneth Harris Jr., First Black President and Longest-Serving Member of the Arkadelphia Public School District’s Board of Education
• George Mitchell, First Black School Board Member and First Black Coroner in Arkadelphia
• Albert Neal, Longest-Serving Justice of the Peace (JOP) in Clark County, Arkansas
• Joe Charles “Ike” Newborn, First Black Mail Carrier in Arkadelphia
• Hosea Sanders, First Black News Anchor from Arkadelphia
Looking to the future
In the summer of 2024, city officials partnered with the History Department at Ouachita Baptist University to gather information on potential candidates. This research proved invaluable to both the city officials and the nominating committee as they worked to select the 2025 class of honorees. The City of Arkadelphia and the Black History Month Nominating Committee thanks Ouachita Baptist University for their efforts and look forward to continuing this partnership in the years ahead.
The 2025 Class of Black History Month Honorees has been selected and notified. City officials are excited to announce its third annual class of Black History Month Honorees and celebrate them in the new year.
As Arkadelphia’s Black History Month program continues to expand, city officials plan to collaborate with the Clark County Historical Association to create an exhibit showcasing the information gathered through the program. When the number of honorees exceeds the available light poles in the downtown area, the exhibit at the Clark County Museum will serve as a lasting tribute to the rich history of Black contributions in the community.
The City of Arkadelphia will be recognized as an Arkansas Business Trendsetter City at the Arkansas Municipal League Winter Conference on Jan. 16, 2025. Arkadelphia’s 2025 Black History Month Recognition Ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2025, in the city’s downtown area.
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