By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Those who attended Sher-wood’s 66th birthday shindig on Tuesday learned how the city got its name, and the city’s new logo took center stage.
Darrell Brown, chairman of the Sherwood History and Heritage Committee, spun the short tale for a crowd of about 100 at the Jack Evans Senior Center.
He said a group of men met on Jan. 2, 1948, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Duran to discuss incorporating the area and what it would be called.
One of the men noticed some children playing with bows and arrows in the front yard. They were wearing homemade caps with feathers, reminiscent of Robin Hood in English folklore, Brown said.
The man suggested naming the city Sherwood Forest after the fictional setting in the tale, but others at the meeting thought Sherwood Forest, Ark., was too long. Brown said that is why they shortened it to Sherwood.
The North Hills Jaycees developed the Robin Hood logo in 1975, the chairman continued. It features a man dressed as the hero of the legend aiming a bow and arrow.
The city, the chamber of commerce, several civic groups and several businesses, such as First State Bank of Sherwood, Sherwood Realty and Woody’s Sherwood Forest, used the Robin Hood logo because it wasn’t trademarked.
The logo was featured on the city’s first flag, made by Rosa Cummings, and on the cover of Sherwood’s first history book, written by Ailene Duran in 1976. The new logo is a bow and arrow followed by the city’s name, written horizontally.
Brown said, “No doubt our city’s new logo with its bow and arrow pays homage to our city’s past, while showing the world Sherwood is aiming toward its best and brightest days that are yet to come in its future.”
Chamber Executive Director Marcia Cook agreed. She said the new branding “sends the message that we want to preserve our heritage, but we also wanted to send the message that we’re a great place to live, we’re a great place to do business, and we think we can do that with this logo.”
Then Alderman Marina Brooks announced the city’s new catch phrase, “close to the action, far from the noise.”
Brooks said, “That represents the fact that Sherwood is the best of both worlds.”
Guests received free T-shirts and drink cozies with the new logo and catch phrase.
Centennial Bank provided hot dogs and chips. Cake and cookies were also served.
The Sherwood Fire Department parked its first fire truck, from 1951, and a new engine in front of the center. Department volunteers, with help from local businesses, recently restored the older model to its former glory.
Dignitaries at the event included Mayor Virginia Hill-man, state Sen. Jane English (R-North Little Rock), Pulaski County Quorum Court Dist. 12 justice of the peace Democratic candidate Jeff Rollins of Sherwood, state representative Dist. 41 Democratic candidate Danny Knight of Sherwood, Pulaski County judge candidate Barry Hyde of North Little Rock, former Alderman Butch Davis and several city officials.
