Willie Kavanaugh Hocker

Willie Kavanaugh Hocker (July 21, 1862 – February 6, 1944) is credited as the designer of the flag of Arkansas.

Early life

Hocker was born in Crooksville, Kentucky in either Carlisle County, or Madison County. She and her family moved to Arkansas in 1870. After obtaining a certificate to teach in 1887, she became a history teacher in Wabbaseka (where she lived as a child). Her father was a farmer and planter.

Designing the flag

- Flag of Arkansas

Hocker was a part of the Pine Bluff chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her chapter wanted to present the newly commissioned USS Arkansas with a state flag; however the chapter was informed that a state flag did not exist at all. Hocker, along with other citizens, sent flag designs to Earle W. Hodges, who was the Secretary of State. What she proposed was a red flag, with a white diamond surrounded by a border of blue, 25 white stars in the blue and three blue stars inside the white diamond. It took the flag design committee to suggest to add "Arkansas" to the flag. Hocker agreed, thus the first design of the state flag was born. After some changes to add a fourth blue star to the flag, to honor Arkansas's participation in the Confederate States of America, the final design was set in 1924.

Death

Willie died at her home in Wabbaseka, Arkansas on February 6, 1944, at the age of 81.

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