Crawford County businessman, teacher, veteran and livestock farmer Warren Blaylock
will tell the tale of Bonnie and Clyde’s Crawford County crime wave when he takes
to the podium June 2 during the second session of a speaker series called “Crawford
County Chronicles” at the Drennen-Scott Historic Site.
Although he was only 12 years old when the celebrated criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow came to Crawford County, Blaylock recalls that the pair made a profound impression on the people along Highway 71.
“They were in a car accident in 1933 when they were in Texas,” Blaylock said. “They came up here to hide out while Bonnie recovered from some third-degree burns she got when the car turned over.”
Blaylock’s talk will be about what happened while the couple waited for Parker’s burns to heal.
“They were running out of money,” Blaylock said. “So Clyde and another fellow went up to Fayetteville to hold up some grocery stores. They got in trouble on the way back to Fort Smith.”
Blaylock said the problems the gang had in Alma following the Fayetteville holdups were a turning point in the couple’s career of crime.
His 2 p.m. talk will be held at the classroom of the historic Drennen home, 221 N. 3rd St. in Van Buren. Limited parking will be available at the Visitor Center. Those attending may also park at the Crawford County Courthouse, which is two blocks from the DSHS.
Although Blaylock’s topic is on Bonnie and Clyde and their exploits in Crawford County, he has his own history in the area.
Born in a one-room log cabin along Highway 71 when it was only a dirt road, Blaylock’s family moved to a farm at Dean Springs, just outside of Rudy. When schools in Crawford County consolidated, he was able to attend high school in Alma.
Following graduation, Blaylock took a job with Black and Veatch, the architects and engineers who were laying out Camp Chaffee. He enlisted in the Army during World War II and was assigned to the 67th Evacuation Hospital. Following his training at Fort Rodman in Massachusetts, Blaylock boarded the Queen Elizabeth with more than 10,000 other soldiers and sailed for England where he trained for the unit’s mission following D-Day, the day the Allies invaded Western Europe in World War II.
His unit set up their canvas hospitals at the front lines of the war, moving with the advancing army, from June 17, 1944, until V-E day in April 1945. He saw action in France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg, including the Battle of the Bulge. Blaylock was awarded, among many other medals, the Bronze Star for his heroism.
After the war, Blaylock graduated from the University of Ď㽶ĘÓƵAPP and taught school for four years before working at American Can Co. Later, he joined the Darrel Thomas Co. as vice president and general manager and operated it for nearly three decades.
Today, he operates Auctioneering Associates, which he says he wishes he had started 40 years ago.
Blaylock participates in many volunteer organizations as an officer or board member including Western Ď㽶ĘÓƵAPP Counseling and Guidance Center, Crawford County Senior Citizen Centers and Citizens Bank and Trust. He is scheduled to be inducted into the Senior Arkansans Hall of Fame on May 14.
Tom Wing, DSHS site director and assistant professor of history at the University of Ď㽶ĘÓƵAPP - Fort Smith, said many people are unaware of the rich history of Crawford County and the city of Van Buren.
“These talks will help bring numerous, colorful stories to life, while tapping into some of our local experts,” Wing said.
UAFS acquired the Drennen home and acreage in 2005 and received several grants to restore the property and the house, which dates back to the 1800s. In all, UAFS received more than $5 million toward the project.
The home was purchased from descendants of John Drennen and Charles Scott -- Caroline Bercher of Lavaca, Scott Bulloch of Van Buren and Drennen Bulloch of Little Rock. The three are fifth-generation descendants of the home's original owner, John Drennen, a founder of Van Buren, politician, Indian agent, landowner and businessman.
Charles Scott was Drennen's business partner who eventually became interested in seeking the hand of Drennen's eldest daughter, Caroline, in marriage. Charles and Caroline Scott inherited control of the estate after Drennen's death in 1855.
The Drennen-Scott Historic Site, which opened to the public in May 2011, serves as a museum and educational facility for UAFS.
Seating for the talks is limited and must be reserved. For reservations and more information on the Crawford County Chronicles series, contact Wing at 479-262-2750 or tom.wing@uafs.edu.