2024.08.24 THROW BACK THURSDAY - ARKANSAS Little League World Series Teams PLUS CLASS NEWS
THROW BACK THURSDAY - ARKANSAS Little League World Series Teams PLUS CLASS NEWS
Willis Callaway played on the Little Rock team that went to the Little League World Series in 1952! Here are his remembrances:
"If you ever watched the baseball Little League World Series on ESPN you may have wondered if a team from Arkansas had played in Williamsport, PA. There have been three teams: Little Rock Junior Deputy on Cantrell Road (twice) and North Little Rock Burns Park. I was fortunate to play on the 1952 Junior Deputy Little League World Series team. It was the first year Little Rock was sanctioned to play Little League baseball. The 1953 Junior Deputy team also made it to the Little League World Series which was the first time the same league had gone in consecutive years. North Little Rock Burns Park went in 1979. It was quite a thrill to play before large crowds in beautiful parks. We had to beat Natchez, MS, before their home crowd of 5,000. Don Dugan was our pitcher that game. He struck out 19 of the 21 outs in the 7 inning game. It is still the best pitching performance I have ever seen. Natchez was a state champion and they were a very good team. Don followed that game by shutting out a favored Houston, TX, team to send us to Williamsport on a MoPac train. Don Dugan (1957 Central High grad) and Joe Nosari (1956 grad) were the team leaders. We lost our first Little League World Series game 1-0 to California. Dugan was not eligible to pitch that game since pitchers were not allowed to pitch consecutive games to protect the young arms.
Other Central High grads on that team were Bill Hicks (1957) and Jim Manning (1958)."
1956 CLASS NEWS
Melba Agee Shipman Obituary
Melba Agee Shipman, 86, of Como, MS, passed away October 20, 2023 at her residence. Melba was a member of Como Baptist Church. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing in the choir. She was an avid gardener, loved bowling in her younger days and loved playing Bunko. She leaves to cherish her memories, her husband, Paul Shipman of Como, MS; daughter, Pam Jordan (Bobby) of Russellville, AR; sons, Steve Shipman of Maumelle, AR and Scott Shipman (Adrian) of Oxford, MS; sisters, Margie Treadway of Thornburg, AR, Betty Archer (Lindle) of Beebe, AR, and Pat Davidson of Mabelvale, AR; brother, David Agee of Mabelvale, AR; grandchildren, Taylor Bunger (Derek), Benjamin Jordan, Lindsey Ashcraft (Brent), Cody Shipman, Bella Shipman, and Paul Wells Shipman; great grandchildren, Amelia Jean Bunger, Beau Allen Bunger, Riggs Michael Ashcraft, and Christopher Rowan Ashcraft; and longtime caregiver, Saundra Munsey. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Lila Agee; sisters, Frances Green, Louise Jenkins, Aline Gerst, and Linda Marsh; and brother, Ray Agee. Memorial donations may be sent to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation https://www.michaeljfox.org/
In loving memory of
Mary Graves Peay WallaceMarch 20, 1938 - January 09, 2024
Mary Graves Wallace passed away on January 9th, 2024 at the age of 85 years. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 20th, 1938 to the late W. Graves Peay and Geneva Martindale Peay. She is predeceased to her Beloved Husband Arthur V. Wallace. Mary is survived by her Loving Daughter Jeanne Collins, Son Mark Thomas Wallace and Cherished granddaughter Ashley Jennifer Comstock.
Mary will be dearly missed by her family and close friends.
I look forward to seeing everyone in April of 2026 in Little Rock at our LRCHS Class of 1956's 70th Reunion!!! Bobbie and I can't wait. I was so sorry to read of the passing of Don McMullan. "Mac'' and myself were simply the best of fiends all through West Side as well as Central. Mac was possibly the best ever out fielder base ball athlete to ever (ever ) come out of LR and Lamar Porter field, with Brooks being the exception. I miss Don. At past Reunions I would always make it a point to sit with Don and Billy Ison and Bill Rath, my personal boyhood heroes. Myself a Vietnam Veteran (served in Cambodia), River Delta boats, in and up the Mekong Delta But Bill Rath's military experience (WOW WOW what a resume) as a flight officer far far by passed my military history. Literally these schoolmates were just about the best of the best from LRCHS56 ... and that includes mJoe Crow too.
Gaylon Mulkey
1955 CLASS NEWS
Two state hospital patients that frequently roamed the grounds around Fair Park Pool and Travelers Field were “Willie and Pete”. Willie carried a raincoat.
Also……none of the Pool employees would dare to call “Granny” (Lois Grimmett) “Old Lady”. Granny and LeRoy Scott were together at the “Pool” and
other sporting events around Quigley stadium.
Bob deBin (Bob will send us some more "memories" of working at Fair Park Pool! We all loved going there!)
Marylou, I had a very good friend that I think was in the 1956 class. His name was or is David Guthridge. Thanks for Throw
Back Thursday.
Patrick Keebey Class of 1955.
1960 CLASS NEWS
If you have friends from this Class, please make sure they know that they are having their 65th Reunion September 19-20, 2024. It will be held at the Delta West Hotel (nee Crowne Plaza where we always have our Reunions,) on Shackelford Road. For more details, they should contact Carolyn Carpenter Dodds or Ann Smith Ivey. If you need their contact numbers, just let me know. They're planning a great time!!!!
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CAN YOU RELATE?????????????
ML