City’s past misconstrued by focus on racial issues

Regarding your Sunday, Aug. 18 editorial, “No satisfaction”: Harrison is more of a straight up “man in black” Johnny Cash town than one with moves like Jagger.

The race riots of 1905 and 1909 are part of our history, but no longer front page news? Give me a break! I expect more! Check where Little Rock Central ’57, one of the biggest racial stories of the last century, is located on Little Rock’s Wikipedia — just a footnote. Fact: The KKK is not located in Harrison. Check your files for last rally in Harrison. I’m old and can’t remember one. Check the files for any local KKK arrests or disturbances. Haven’t seen any. You might check out Dayton, Ohio. Legitimate news media is worse than fake news when they fail to debunk questionable methods used to prioritize a bad cause.

I do remember growing up near Harrison in a family service station business. My job, starting around 5 years old, was to provide full service to all (including blacks) customers, and we didn’t have racially restricted restrooms. In a service station you found out quickly that customers smelled like oil, had red blood, and their cash was green, and you were as good as your last customer.

Seeking a better life I got a master of science in math from University of Arkansas and headed to Washington, D.C. The news about Arkansas was the ’57 Central High race issues, along with Arkansas being a poor, rural, agricultural state.

I was prepared to defend the state on race issues. I knew there had been integration in west Arkansas via Dale Bumpers prior to ’57. Also there was a small business in Arkansas, Walmart making some noise. No matter. It was 1968, one of the worst in U.S. history. There were race riots in many major northern cities, including D.C., but they no longer make their Wikipedia front page.

When I returned to Harrison in 1973, I started a technology company, first as a local service bureau, and then transitioned to business outside the city and state, even international.

Every person I brought to Harrison, from various nationalities, were extremely pleased with their visit. If Google, YouTube and Wikipedia had been at the current level of misinformation, it would have been much more problematic to pull off with all the advance research people do today.

In my business travels I always used the Harrison Walmart story — the second Walmart is something I can identify with. It’s easy to make something successful if only down the street, but doing it miles away is the real test. Sam Walton said ‘If it hadn’t been for the success of the Harrison store, there wouldn’t be a Walmart chain like there is today.”

I always promote the quality of life — lakes, Buffalo National River, Eureka Springs, Branson, Big Cedar/Top of the Rock complex.

The real stories are the successes — starting with Walmart, Garrison/FedEx, Sav-a Stop, Millers, Neighbors, Johnson’s, Lair Oil/White Oak, Claridge, DSI, Mosco Cash Enterprises, Pace (founded here), Harness Roofing, etc.

HERB LAIR

Harrison