Freda Cruse Hardison is the featured speaker at the upcoming meeting of the Hardy History Association speaking about the Trail of Tears – Benge Route “The Only Route to Follow This Path and Why.” Hardison’s family arrived in Arkansas in 1794 and is on the 1817 Cherokee Census of Arkansas. Based on research and interviews, she will share the background of the Benge Route, which is named for the Cherokee leader, Captain John Benge, who organized the trek and led it through this section of Arkansas. The presentation is Thursday, March 7th at 5:30 p.m. in the Historic Hardy Gym 203 School Street in Hardy.
Hardison was born and raised in Stone County near the White River. As a child, Hardison’s mother would bring her to Hardy, Mammoth Spring, and Cherokee Village and tell stories of their family. She is a graduate of Mtn, View High School and the University of California, San Diego. Hardison retired in 2005, after spending nearly 20 years as a child welfare caseworker and supervisor in Arkansas. She began interviewing her community elders and has published “Voices of Our People,” “Places of Our People,” and “Frank and Jesse James – Friends and Family” which won the Governors Award, Arkansas Folk Life Award and Sons of Confederate Veterans Literary Award. Her most recent publications include “Birth of the Ozarks 1794-1839 Trail of Tears” and “51 Days with Grandpa.”
She is currently putting in a General Store and Vendors Mall in Calico Rock on historic Main Street at the river bridge. Her research, writing and love of history will provide for an interesting presentation. Books authored by Hardison will be on sale at the meeting. Please bring a friend to the March 7th presentation. For more information call the Hardy History Association at (870) 847-3295.
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current publicity chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.