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Boyd Cypert

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Alfred Boyd Cypert
JD
Arkansas Sixth Judicial District Attorney
In office
1926–1931
DeputyCarl Edward Bailey
Succeeded byCarl Edward Bailey
ConstituencyPulaski and Perry County, Arkansas
Personal details
BornLittle Rock, Arkansas
(1889-08-08)August 8, 1889
DiedWashington, D.C.
January 9, 1973(1973-01-09) (aged 83)
Resting placeNational Memorial Park
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseBlanche Cypert
Alma materUniversity of Arkansas, Harvard Law School
ProfessionBaseball player, lawyer
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Battles/warsWorld War I

Alfred Boyd Cypert (August 8, 1889 – January 9, 1973) was a professional baseball player, lawyer, Democratic Party politician and business manager. Cypert was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and attended the University of Arkansas where he played baseball and football for the Razorbacks. He enrolled in Harvard Law School in 1912 and graduated in 1913. In 1914, he played one game with the Major League Baseball (MLB) Cleveland Naps. After his baseball career was over, Cypert served as the district attorney in Little Rock and in 1931 ran an unsuccessful bid for Arkansas Attorney General against four-term incumbent Hal Norwood. Later in his life, Cypert served as the business manager of the University of Arkansas' athletic department.

Early life and baseball career

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Boyd Cypert
Third baseman
Born: (1889-08-08)August 8, 1889
Little Rock, Arkansas
Died: January 9, 1973(1973-01-09) (aged 83)
Washington, D.C.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 27, 1914, for the Cleveland Naps
Last MLB appearance
June 27, 1914, for the Cleveland Naps
MLB statistics
At-bats1
Hits0
Teams

Alfred Boyd Cypert was born on August 8, 1889, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Thomas and Bessie Cypert of Arkansas and Tennessee, respectively.[1] In 1900, Thomas Cypert was working as a grocery store clerk in Little Rock.[1] By 1910, Thomas Cypert found work as a real estate agent.[2] Boyd Cypert had one sibling, his brother Thomas Cypert, Jr.[1] In 1910, Boyd Cypert enrolled at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. While at the University of Arkansas, he was a member of Xi Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.[3] While at school, he played third base[4] for the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team.[4] He also was the quarterback for the Arkansas Razorbacks football for three years (1910–12).[4]

In 1912, Cypert enrolled at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[5] He graduated in 1913.[5] Cypert signed a professional baseball contract in 1913.[4] He played his first and only professional game on June 27, 1914, as a member of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Cleveland Naps.[6] In that game, he struck out once in one at-bat.[6] Defensively, Cypert played third base.[6] During World War I, Cypert served in the United States Army and later received an honorable discharge.[7] In 1921, Cypret was a pitcher for the Arkansas Razorbacks alumni baseball team.[8]

Law and political career

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By 1920, Cypert worked as a general practice lawyer in Little Rock, Arkansas.[9] In late-January 1922, Cypert was nominated for the position of district attorney in Little Rock.[10] However, it was not until 1926 when Cypert was elected Arkansas Sixth Judicial District Attorney.[11] His constituency covered Pulaski and Perry County, Arkansas.[11] His deputy district attorney was Carl Edward Bailey, who would later go-on to be the Governor of Arkansas.[11] In 1928, Cypert prosecuted Charles Smith, the president of Advancement of Atheism, on blasphemy charges after he was distributing pamphlets which read: "Evolution is true; the Bible is a lie; and God is a ghost".[12][13]

In November 1928, after the State of Arkansas passed a law banning the teaching of evolution, Cypert stated that he was not going to hunt down offenders, instead that he was going to enforce the law when asked to do so.[14] In 1929, Cypert prosecuted Reece A. Claude, the state railroad commissioner, on bribery charges after investigating a bill in the Arkansas Legislature which Claude allegedly attempted to pay state officials to pass.[15] In 1931, Cypert ran for Arkansas Attorney General against Hal Norwood, who previously held the office.[16] Cypert eventually lost the race.[16] He was succeeded at his position of Arkansas Sixth Judicial District Attorney by Carl Edward Bailey.[11]

Later life

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By 1930, Cypert was living in Little Rock, Arkansas with his wife, Blanch Cypert and their daughter, Belly.[17] Boyd Cypert was hired as the University of Arkansas' business manager in 1934.[18] In 1936, Cypert considered running for Arkansas Attorney General again.[19] He died on January 9, 1973, at the age of 83 in Washington, D.C.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "1900 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Federal Government. 1900. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. ^ "1910 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Federal Government. 1910. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. ^ Xi Chapter: Century of Tradition at the University of Arkansas
  4. ^ a b c d "Inductees: Class of 1972". Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Harvard Alumni Directory. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard Alumni Association. 1919. p. 171.
  6. ^ a b c d "Al Cypert Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  7. ^ "World War I Discharge Records". Arkansas History Commission. Arkansas History Commission. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  8. ^ "All-Stars Lose Second Game, 7-6". Fayetteville Daily Democrat. Fayetteville, Arkansas. March 21, 1921. p. 1.
  9. ^ "1920 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Federal Government. 1920. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  10. ^ "Consider Promotion Merited". Fayetteville Daily Democrat. Fayetteville, Arkansas. February 1, 1922. p. 1.
  11. ^ a b c d "Carl Edward Bailey (1894–1948)". University of Arkansas. The Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  12. ^ "Glaring Banner on Evolution Displayed at Atheists' Headquarters". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. United Press International. November 13, 1928. p. 9.
  13. ^ "Atheists Freed on $100 Bond". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press International. November 16, 1926. p. 35.
  14. ^ "Arkansas Has Trouble With Evolution Law". Berkeley Daily Gazette. Berkeley, California. United Press International. November 27, 1928. p. 3.
  15. ^ "Arkansas Horse Racing Bill Causes Another Flare-Back". The Kingsport Times. Kingsport, Tennessee. May 15, 1929. p. 1.
  16. ^ a b The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 57. Arkansas Historical Association: 136, 138. 1998. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ^ "1930 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Federal Government. 1930. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  18. ^ "Tickets Go Fast For Owl Invasion". San Antonio Express. San Antonio, Texas. November 6, 1934. p. 9.
  19. ^ "Cypert Mentioned for Atty. General". Fayetteville Daily Democrat. Fayetteville, Arkansas. April 18, 1936. p. 1.
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