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THE History of Arkansas
Speech & Drama Education
History of ACTAAFounded in 1919 as the Arkansas Little Theatre Association, the Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) has a long history of promoting the rigorous study and ethical practice of professional communication, debate, and theatre arts as an essential discipline, life skill, and art form. Serving as a professional association of educators since 1934, ACTAA has provided the students of Arkansas opportunities to grow critical thinking skills, interpersonal effectiveness, leadership, collaborative work, problem-solving, self-efficacy, etc. in experiential learning through debate, forensics, acting, and public speaking instruction and competitions. Throughout the years, ACTAA’s activities have included hosting the Arkansas State Forensics & Debate Championship Tournament (former Arkansas Speech Festival), sanctioning local qualifying invitations tournaments, Arkansas Student Congress, the Arkansas Journal of Communication Studies, and the development of National Speech & Debate Association and International Thespian Society chapters in Arkansas. In the 1980s, ACTAA was critical in advocating for communications and fine arts to be made requirements in Arkansas Academic Standards, and it continues to advocate for the importance of debate, forensics, acting, and public speaking as essential curricula. THE ACTAA ARCHIVESFrom the Arkansas Little Theatre Association and the Arkansas Association of teachers of Speech to the Arkansas State Communication Association, and today’s Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association, ACTAA has a long history support educators and students of speech and drama in Arkansas. In 1992, ACTAA, and several of its retired members, donated hundreds of original documents, newspaper clippings and audio recordings documenting the history of speech & drama education in Arkansas and the association to the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Archives. Located in the Torreyson Library in Conway, the Arkansas State Communication Association Collection is available for in-person research. ACTAA hopes to commit effort in assisting the UCA Archives with digitizing the collection and continually adding artifacts. Notable Members & Student ParticipantsSince the ACTAA was founded in 1919, hundreds of thousands of students and educators have participated in speech, debate or drama in Arkansas. Many of these individuals have risen to the pinnacle of their respective fields, including governors, community leaders, Academy Award winners, and more. ACTAA attempts to maintain a list of known notable members and student participants in our activities. Check out Notable Members/ Students Do you know of someone who should be on this list? Nominate them today by filling out the following nomination form. Past Presidents of the AssociationArkansas Association of Teachers of Speech
1930-1931: 1931-1932: 1933-1934: 1934-1935: 1935-1936: Margaret Montague, Fort Smith Junior College 1936-1937: 1937-1938: 1938-1939: Robert B. Capel, Hendrix College 1939-1940: M. Blair Hart, University of Arkansas Arkansas Association of Teachers of Speech
1940-1941: Mrs. Gene H. Rudolph, Ouachita Baptist University 1941-1942: Leona Scott, North Little Rock High School 1942-1943: Marguerite Pearce, Searcy High School 1943-1944: 1944-1945: 1945-1946: Ella Myrl Shanks, Arkansas College 1946-1947: 1947-1948: 1948-1949: 1949-1950: Arkansas Association of Teachers of Speech
1950-1951: 1951-1952: 1952-1953: 1953-1954: 1954-1955: 1955-1956:
Arkansas Speech Association
1956-1957: 1957-1958: 1958-1959: Ralph Eubanks, University of Arkansas 1959-1960: Arkansas Speech Association
1960-1961: Bennie Jean Smith 1961-1962: Pearl Henson, Henderson State Teachers College 1962-1963: Mary Ingalls, Fayetteville High School 1963-1964: Fred Koonts, Little Rock University 1964-1965: 1965-1966: Paul Shaffer, Springdale High School 1966-1967: Jack Gregory, University of Arkansas 1967-1968: Dennis Rhodes, Arkansas State University 1968-1969: Sara Lockard, Little Rock University 1969-1970: Bobby Faye Gammel, McClellan High School Arkansas Speech Communication Association
1970-1971: Robert Eubanks, Harding University 1971-1972: Patty Howe, Fayetteville High School 1972-1973: Don Garnett, Henderson State Teachers College 1973-1974: Karen Larance, Little Central High School 1974-1975: Jerry Butler, U of A at Little Rock 1975-1976: Libby Clayton, Dumas High School 1976-1977: R. David Ray, U of A at Monticello 1977-1978: Pris Benson, Northeast High School 1978-1979: Elosie Kalb, Phillips County Community College 1979-1980: Fred Boosey, Parkview High School Arkansas Speech Communication Association
1980-1981: Richard Rea, University of Arkansas 1981-1982: Renva Watterson, Northeast High School 1982-1983: Patrick Garner, Harding University 1983-1984: Pat Treadway, Catholic High School 1984-1985: Judy Trice, Hall High School 1985-1986: Dennis Bailey, University of Arkansas 1986-1987: Therese McFall, Heber Springs High School 1987-1988: Dr. Ovid Bayless, Arkansas State University 1988-1989: Karen Lawrence, Little Rock Central High School Arkansas Speech Communication Association
1990-1991: Dr. Sally Roden, University of Central Arkansas
Arkansas State Communication Association
1991-1992: Charlene Shehane, Lakeside High School 1992-1993: Debbie Howell, North Pulaski High School 1993-1994: Melinda Valdez, Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School 1994-1995: Pris Benson, North Little Rock High School 1995-1996: Conley Hall, Rogers High School 1996-1997: Dr. John Gale, University of Central Arkansas 1997-1998: Dr. Claudia Beach, Henderson State University 1998-1999: Sallie Langford, Fayetteville High School 1999-2000: Vicki Thompson, Bentonville High School Arkansas State Communication Association
2000-2001: Dr. Linda Webster, University of Arkansas at Monticello 2001-2002: Mike Fisher, Arkansas State University 2002-2003: Cliff Langford, University of Arkansas 2003-2004: Jane Balgavy, Cabot High School 2004-2005: Dr. Mary Mosely, University of Central Arkansas 2005-2006: Sara Cooke, North Pulaski High School 2006-2007: Dr. Dennis White, Arkansas State University 2007-2008: Jennifer Akers, Cabot Junior High North 2008-2009: Debbie Ashcraft, Monticello High School 2009-2010: Ashley Tarvin, Cabot High School Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association
2010-2011: Tim Hollis, Fayetteville High School 2011-2012: Dawn Tucker, Jonesboro High School 2012-2013: Mary Richardson, Hendrix College Fall 2013: Don Dancer, Rogers Heritage High School Spring 2014: Dawn Tucker, Jonesboro High School 2014-2015: Helen Strickland, Hall High School 2015-2016: Tim Peerbolte, Greenwood High School 2016-2017: Jennifer Alaquinez, Cabot Junior High North 2017-2018: Melinda Beith, Little Rock Central High School 2018-2020: Rosie Valdez-Block, Little Rock Central High School Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association
2020-2021: Jackie Reiff, Gravette High School 2021-2024: Brandon Box-Higdem, Bentonville High School 2024-2026: Zackery Tucker, Arkansas State University-Beebe 2026-2028: Laurie Harrison, Fulbright Junior High School 2028-2030: Jessica Skordal, Bentonville High School |
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