KINGSLAND - Just three days after one Cleveland County native was recognized in the nation's capitol, another famous native son was recognized with a special marker at his birthplace in the Smith Chapel community.Last Friday, family members, state officials and the Fordyce High School football team gathered on the side of Hwy. 8 in southwest Cleveland County to witness the unveiling of the state's 43rd Arkansas Historical Marker recognizing the boyhood home of legendary college football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Bryant was born at this location referred to as Moro Bottom on Sept. 11, 1913. He was the 11th of 12 children born to Wilson Monroe Bryant and Ida Kilgore Bryant. He played football at Fordyce High School before eventually playing college football for the University of Alabama.While Bryant was head coach at four universities, he is most recognized for his accomplishments while leading the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. During is tenure at Alabama (1958-1983), Bryant is credited with winning six national championships. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time.Prior to becoming head coach at Alabama, Bryant was head coach at Texas A&M (19541957), the University of Kentucky (1946-1953) and Maryland (1945).His overall coaching record was 323–85–17, and he was 1512-2 in bowl games.Several of those speaking at at last Friday's ceremony eluded to the fact that the marker dedication was just three days after a statue honoring country music legend Johnny Cash was dedicated at the National Statuary Hall located in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C."After today, we'll have one to the Man in Black, and one to the one in the black and white houndstooth hat," said District 96 State Rep. Sonia Barker (R-Smackover), referring to Cash and Bryant, who adorned a black-and-white houndstooth hat on the sidelines.Cash and Bryant are both Cleveland County natives, born ab...
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