First look

First ladies gather for reopening of Old Statehouse exhibit

First lady Susan Hutchinson and four former first ladies joined in a Sept. 13 ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the reopening of the Arkansas First Ladies Exhibition at the Old Statehouse Museum.

The former first ladies, governors and family members gathered with other guests at a VIP celebration that included remarks from the museum’s director Bill Gatewood, Director the Department of Arkansas Heritage Stacy Hurst and Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Hutchinson noted that history would not be complete without the stories of the first ladies who aren’t elected to office but do have enormous responsibilities.

The former first ladies in attendance were Gay White, Betty Tucker, Janet Huckabee and Ginger Beebe. Children and grandchildren of other Arkansas governors and first ladies also were in attendance.

After the ribbon cutting, Arkansas first ladies and governors were the first to visit the exhibition of the inaugural gowns.

Betty Tucker, Janet Huckabee, first lady Susan Hutchinson, Ginger Beebe and Gay White

Mary Harsh (seated), daughter of Nia Warnock, who funded the original Arkansas First Ladies Exhibition in 1955, with daughters and granddaughters Julia Kirk, Elizabeth Anderson, Molly Burns and Amy Sixbey

Josie Osborne, Sarah Hopkins and Patricia McMath Bueter

Former Gov. Jim Guy and Betty Tucker with curator Jo Ellen Mack

Misty Phillips and Stephanie Blevins with former first lady Janet Huckabee

Sharon Ursery, Lana and Ed Bethune and Jenny Adair

Ric Bailey and his father, Bob Bailey, who is the son of Margaret and Gov. Carl Bailey, the 31st governor of Arkansas

Celia Kreth and her mother, Ellen Kreth, granddaughter of Gov. Orval Faubus

Gay White and her fiance, Bill Sigler

First lady Susan and Gov. Asa Hutchinson

Former Gov. Mike and Ginger Beebe