Famous People from Arkansas Trivia Quiz

Answer: Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash was born to cotton farmers in rural Arkansas. He caught his big break in Memphis and became a very popular folk and country singer. His biggest hits were "Folsom Prison Blues", "Ring of Fire", "A Boy Named Sue", and "I Walk the Line", the latter of which was used as the title of his film biography starring Joaquin Phoenix.

Answer: Conway Twitty

Conway Twitty was born Harold Lloyd Jenkins in Frairs Point, Mississippi, but spent much of his young life in Arkansas, where he first took up music on local radio shows. As he became more popular, he adopted the moniker Conway Twitty after two small towns in Texas and Arkansas, respectively.

At the height of his career, he was well known for his duets with Loretta Lynn. Their most popular song was "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man".

Answer: Arkansas State Press

Daisy Bates (sometimes known as Daisy Gatson Bates) was born in rural Arkansas. As an African-American, she experienced segregation and discrimination in her young life. She would admit as an adult that she had grown up hating white people after learning her mother was raped and murdered by a gang of white men and the police did little to investigate.

However, her father told her hatred was not justified against people who did her no harm and that she could not let hate destroy her. As a result, Bates took a more proactive approach to civil rights. Along with her husband, Lucius, she founded the Arkansas State Press.

This newspaper published stories about violence against African-Americans in a different light than was the norm at the time. Bates and her newspaper are best known for leading the fight for integration in Arkansas public schools.

Answer: The Little Rock Nine

The Little Rock Nine was a group of African-American students who were the first black students to attend Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Their admission occurred after a prolonged legal battle and after President Eisenhower brought in the National Guard.

The other members of the Little Rock Nine were Ernest Green, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Carlotta Walls, Thelma Mothershed, Terrence Roberts and Jefferson Thomas. Green was the first to graduate from the school. Eckford, however, may be the most recognizable of the nine after she appeared in an iconic photo of white students jeering her as she walked the campus. One of these white students, Hazel Massery who is screaming at Eckford, would later become close friends with her.

Answer: She was the first woman to be elected to the Senate

Hattie Caraway was born in Tennessee, but moved to Arkansas after marrying her husband, Thaddeus. Thaddeus became a U.S. Senator and died in office. Hattie was appointed in his place until an election could occur. This was a common occurrence, called the widow's ascension, in which the widow of a senator would serve merely as a placeholder until a man could be elected. However, Caraway ran for the term in her own right and won the election. She became the first woman to be elected to the Senate. All of the women before her were appointed and not elected subsequently.

She served for two full terms (plus the remainder of her husband's term). She was quite a popular senator. However, she performed badly in the 1944 primary for her seat when she ran for reelection. She supported the Equal Rights Amendment and the G.I. Bill, both of which were considered socialism in conservative Arkansas. She finished the primary in fourth place.

Answer: Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton was born William Jefferson Clinton in Hope, Arkansas. He was active in politics at a young age. He became Arkansas Attorney General in 1977 at the age of 31. He became Governor just two years later and served in that position until he was elected U.S. President in 1992, minus two years beginning in 1981 when he lost reelection.

He was generally seen as a popular president, although one of dubious morals. He was impeached for perjury and other charges stemming from the investigation into his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. He was acquitted and became the rare president whose party gained seats in Congress after the midterm election as his impeachment was seen as unpopular and political.

Answer: Wes Bentley

Wes Bentley was born in Jonesboro and raised in Little Rock. Though it was not his first role, Bentley first rose to fame in the film "American Beauty", where he played Ricky Fitts, the teenage son of Frank and Barbara who records everything he sees. He also had role in the first "Hunger Games" film playing gamemaker Seneca Crane.

He starred on the western drama "Yellowstone" playing Jamie Dutton, the politically ambitious, but morally and emotionally weak son of rancher John Dutton.

Answer: President of the American Olympic Committee

Douglas MacArthur was born in Little Rock in 1880. His family was one stemming from a proud military tradition. MacArthur is best known for leading American troops on the Pacific front during World War II. He infamously defended the Philippines from the Japanese and vowed "I shall return". He was also notoriously fired by President Truman in 1951.

Prior to his military service, however, MacArthur was President of the U.S. Olympic Committee during the 1928 Games in Amsterdam. He took this position seriously and worked hard to personally train some of the athletes. He led the U.S. to its most successful Olympics to date. The U.S. topped the medal chart and set numerous world records.

Answer: Mary Steenburgen

Mary Steenburgen was born in Newport in 1957. She is best known for her Academy Award role as Lynda Dummer in the film "Melvin and Howard". She also starred in films such as "Tender is the Night" and "The Help". She married actor Malcolm McDowell in 1980 and Ted Danson in 1995.

She is close personal friends with fellow Arkansans Bill and Hillary Clinton and was active on their campaigns for president.

Answer: Cosmopolitan

Helen Gurley Brown was born in Green Forest, Arkansas, in 1922. Her father was active in politics in the state but after he died when Brown was a teenager, her family move to California. She became editor-in-chief at Cosmopolitan magazine in 1965. A feminist, she transformed the magazine to be geared more toward single women and their independence and sexual freedom and other issues. Prior to this, Cosmopolitan was actually focused primarily on men. For over fifty years, she was married to film producer David Brown.

The couple had married before either was famous in their own right.