Joy Blankenship, executive director of Pine Bluff Downtown Development, dressed in a frock of early 20th century vintage, plays the part of Willie Kavanaugh Hocker, who designed the first Arkansas state flag in 1912, in the rededication of a mural depicting Hocker and her design Tuesday in downtown Pine Bluff. The mural was originally painted and completed in October 1995 by mural artists David and Sally Frye.
Wendell Norton of Norton Arts Inc. of Norton Arts, Inc. of Marshall, Arkansas, and New York City completed restoration of the mural earlier this year. Funding for the restoration was provided by The Rosen Foundation, The Trinity Foundation, Synergy Forum and the Pine Bluff/John McAlmont Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. From right, Greg Gustek, director of the Pine Bluff Festival Association, and Dabney Pelton, a member of the Pine Bluff Downtown Development board of directors, members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and other guests, look on. (Special to The Commercial/Joe Dempsey)