Gravette Historical Museum receives donation of 1943 scorebook

GRAVETTE -- Amanda Price attended the Oct. 11 meeting of the Gravette Historical Museum Commission and donated an official scorebook dated 1943.

The scorebook complemented an item already in the museum collection, a chalk bulldog with the inscription "Relic of the trip to State Tourney of Jonesboro 1940."

Amanda is the granddaughter of Olin Leonard, whose name is among those players whose names are inscribed on the bulldog. Players whose names are listed are Norman Clark, Burt Allinder, Vance Perry, Conley Austin, Marion Roberts, David Ralston, Olin Leonard, Kenneth Zimmerman, Jack Russell, Floyd Russell, Donald Wells, L.M. Pearson, W.P. Ellis, Nelson Leonard, Haddon Leonard, Lindsey Motley and Durrill Gunsaulas.

There's an interesting story behind the bulldog, a trophy of sorts from the trip the town basketball team made to Jonesboro. Apparently, there wasn't a trophy to present to the winning team, which was Gravette. After the game, the team traveled on to Memphis, Tenn. Wanting something to commemorate their victory, team members shopped for a lion. When they were unable to find one, they settled on the bulldog to signify their win.

Other inscriptions on the bulldog include the word "Oscar," which is presumed to be the team's name for the dog, and the words "Yea, Thelma" on the right side. No one has been found who can verify Thelma's identity.

"7 miles from Missouri and 10 miles from Oklahoma" was listed, likely to describe Gravette's location, and "Homestead Inn" and "Pivot Rock" likely identify where the team stayed on the trip and a location they visited in Eureka Springs on their way home.

Price related that the scorebook and other record books were found in a barn on her grandfather's property, where she now lives. The Leonard farm home was used as a polling place for rural Gravette voters for many years.

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