The accolades hold pouring in for former Stuttgart Ricebird and College of Central Arkansas standout David Walker. He has been named the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award Winner as the highest particular person defensive participant on the FCS Nationwide Awards Banquet. That honor goes together with being named Convention Defensive Participant of the Yr for 3 consecutive seasons and Nationwide Defensive Participant of the Yr by the FCS Athletic Administrators Affiliation, along with quite a few All-America honors. David has additionally been invited to the NFL Scouting Mix. And as nice an athlete as he’s, he’s an excellent higher particular person! Ricebird Nation couldn’t be extra proud and is so excited to see what’s subsequent for our personal David Walker!
I used to be born and raised in Stuttgart, and it was (and is) a fantastic place to develop up. I can nonetheless trip round in my previous neighborhood and bear in mind who lived the place. One home that I am going by frequently on Buerkle Avenue is that of my lifelong good friend, Burk Buerkle. We went to high school collectively from kindergarten via twelfth grade, and, due to Fb, we will nonetheless sustain with one another. Each journey by Burk’s previous residence brings again a distinct, fond reminiscence. And if you’re not aware of the historical past of Stuttgart, one among Burk’s ancestors, Reverend Adam Buerkle, based Stuttgart within the Eighteen Eighties.
Whereas at school, Burk and I have been each within the band for a time. I performed trumpet, and he performed cornet, simply as his dad did. As a matter of truth, I bear in mind his dad taking us to what’s now referred to as the Robinson Heart in Little Rock to see well-known trumpeter Al Hirt. By the way in which, each Burk and his dad, Mr. Eddie, might give Al a run for his cash on that brass instrument! However that’s one other story.
In fact, one of many first issues that we realized to play within the Jr. Ricebird Band was the Stuttgart Alma Mater. I’m unsure the way it was introduced up, however I bear in mind Burk telling me that the Alma Mater was written in his front room there on Buerkle Avenue. That caught with me, and each time that I hear the Alma Mater, which is frequent, I consider Burk telling me that. I didn’t bear in mind far more than that, so I lately contacted my good friend and requested him if I had dreamed that or what. My reminiscence began to return again as Burk expanded on what he remembered. I qualify this story by saying “to one of the best of my reminiscence,” and Burk mainly mentioned the identical factor.
Burk’s home on Buerkle Avenue was proper throughout from Stuttgart Excessive Faculty, which was on the nook of Ninth and Buerkle. SHS confronted Ninth Avenue and sat within the location that’s partially taken up now by the Stuttgart Senior Heart. Anyway, Burk’s ancestors rented rooms to lecturers who taught throughout the road. Because the story goes, a kind of lecturers was a band director, title unknown now, within the Nineteen Thirties, and he was answerable for composing the Stuttgart Alma Mater in the lounge of the household residence that Burk grew up in. I assume that nothing was ever documented, as no credit score is given to a author, nevertheless it was a kind of issues that caught and continues to be round almost 100 years later.
One of many locations the place you’ll hear the Alma Mater frequently is the brand new Ricebird Enviornment that’s underneath building simply south of SHS/SJHS. It’s actually taking form on each the inside and outside, and hopefully, we’ll be watching Ricebird Basketball in it later this 12 months, together with lots of different actions. What a wonderful facility and one which our group can definitely be happy with.
One other building challenge underway in Stuttgart is on the alternative finish of city, as far north as you may get. It’s a Casey’s Comfort Retailer/Gasoline Station positioned on the nook of Hwy 63 and Hwy 165 (aka the Bypass). It’s subsequent to Petrus Auto Gross sales and throughout from Mack’s Prairie Wings. This can be a welcome addition to Stuttgart and needs to be very profitable at that busy intersection. I’m additionally listening to rumors that they’ve nice pizza, together with a superb breakfast pizza! We have been informed on the final Stuttgart Industrial Improvement Company (SIDC) assembly that they hoped to be open in March. I’m unsure the climate goes to permit that, nevertheless it, too, is taking form, and I can’t look forward to it to open and begin serving native residents, guests, and people simply passing via.
Talking of climate, “previous man winter” is settling in on the Grand Prairie. I hope everybody stays heat, safeguards towards the chilly, checks in your family, neighbors, and aged, and makes positive your pets are saved protected and heat, too. It might be chilly outdoors, however let’s look on the nice and cozy facet—Ricebird basketball is heating up! Each the girls and boys bought massive wins over good Star Metropolis groups to kick off 2025!
Let’s hold it going. Go Birds!
