David Hampton Pryor - Celebration of Life and Memorial Interviews

In April 2024, friends, colleagues, and supporters gathered in Little Rock, Arkansas, to celebrate the life and mourn the passing of Senator David Pryor. The Pryor Center traveled to Little Rock to record the memorial service, which featured words from Senator Pryor’s sons, David Jr., Scott, and Senator Mark Pryor, as well as from President Bill Clinton. The Pryor Center also recorded brief interviews with many attendees on their memories of Senator Pryor. Also included are two tribute videos. The first was made in celebration of Pryor’s receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2019. The second video was put together by Pryor Center staff for the memorial service and features archival footage of Pryor from the KATV News Archive, which is housed at the Pryor Center. Taken together, the video and audio captured here showcases the immense impression Senator Pryor left on all those who knew him, from his neighbors and friends to those he worked alongside in government. These recordings also highlight the legacy Pryor leaves behind, as a man who served his home state selflessly and lived by the motto “Arkansas Comes First” every day of his life.

Video

Audio

#1: David Pryor during his time as a United States Senator
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#2: David Pryor as an infant, ca. 1934
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor (seated) with his mother and siblings (counterclockwise from lower right), Cornelia, William Jr., Susan Newton Pryor, and Elinor, ca. 1942 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#3: David Pryor (seated) with his mother and siblings (counterclockwise from lower right), Cornelia, William Jr., Susan Newton Pryor, and Elinor, ca. 1942
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor, Don Harrell, Gordon Newton, Cornelia Pryor, Dottie Harrell, and Elinor Pryor riding a donkey and cart, ca. 1942 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#4: David Pryor, Don Harrell, Gordon Newton, Cornelia Pryor, Dottie Harrell, and Elinor Pryor riding a donkey and cart, ca. 1942
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#5: David Pryor as a child, Camden, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#6: David Pryor, quarterback for Camden, Arkansas, ca. 1950
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#7: David Pryor, Senate page, Washington, DC, 1951
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor as student at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1956 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#8: David Pryor as student at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1956
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor and Barbara Lunsford at a Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity formal dance, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1957 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#9: David Pryor and Barbara Lunsford at a Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity formal dance, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1957
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#10: David and Barbara Pryor, November 28, 1957
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor at the editor's desk at the <em>Ouachita Citizen</em> newspaper; Camden, Arkansas, 1957 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#11: David Pryor at the editor's desk at the Ouachita Citizen newspaper; Camden, Arkansas, 1957
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor at his desk at the <em>Ouachita Citizen</em> newspaper, Camden, Arkansas, ca. 1958 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#12: David Pryor at his desk at the Ouachita Citizen newspaper, Camden, Arkansas, ca. 1958
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

State representative David Pryor, Capital Building, Little Rock, Arkansas, ca. 1960 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#13: State representative David Pryor, Capital Building, Little Rock, Arkansas, ca. 1960
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Barbara and David Pryor, Lunsford residence, Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1960s © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#14: Barbara and David Pryor, Lunsford residence, Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1960s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#15: David Pryor shaking hands with President Lyndon Johnson, ca. 1964
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David and Barbara Pryor with their sons, Dee and Mark, Camden, Arkansas, 1966 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#16: David and Barbara Pryor with their sons, Dee and Mark, Camden, Arkansas, 1966
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#17: David Pryor with his sons, Mark, Scott and Dee, Washington, DC, 1967
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#18: David and Barbara Pryor during his campaign for governor, 1974
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#19: David and Barbara Pryor with their sons, Dee, Scott, and Mark, ca. 1974
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David and Barbara Pryor with their dogs, Sam and Max, moving into the Arkansas Governor's Mansion, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1975 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#20: David and Barbara Pryor with their dogs, Sam and Max, moving into the Arkansas Governor's Mansion, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1975
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Govenor David Pryor with his wife, Barbara, sons, David Jr., Scott, and Mark, and mother, Susie; Little Rock, Arkansas, ca; 1976 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#21: Govenor David Pryor with his wife, Barbara, sons, David Jr., Scott, and Mark, and mother, Susie; Little Rock, Arkansas, ca; 1976
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#22: David Pryor in political cartoon by George Fisher, 1976
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor on the back porch at Lunsford residence, Fayetteville, Arkansas © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#23: David Pryor on the back porch at Lunsford residence, Fayetteville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#24: Governor David Pryor in parade; Springdale, Arkansas, ca. 1976
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Governor David Pryor with Arkansas Attorney General Bill Clinton in the Governor's Office, Little Rock, Arkansas, ca. late 1970's © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#25: Governor David Pryor with Arkansas Attorney General Bill Clinton in the Governor's Office, Little Rock, Arkansas, ca. late 1970's
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#26: Governor David Pryor at podium, wearing chef's hat and apron
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor and Don Harrell, Governor's Office, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1977 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#27: David Pryor and Don Harrell, Governor's Office, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1977
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#28: David Pryor shaking hands with President Jimmy Carter, ca. 1977
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#29: United States Senator David Pryor, Washington, DC, 1982
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor with President Ronald Reagan. Oval Office in the White House; Washington, DC, 1982 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#30: David Pryor with President Ronald Reagan. Oval Office in the White House; Washington, DC, 1982
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor with (from left) Bill Clinton, Frank White, Sid McMath, Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, Orval Faubus, and Dale Bumpers; 1986 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#31: David Pryor with (from left) Bill Clinton, Frank White, Sid McMath, Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, Orval Faubus, and Dale Bumpers; 1986
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor (far right) with his family (from left) Mark, David Jr., Barbara, and Scott; Arkansas, ca. 1980s © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#32: David Pryor (far right) with his family (from left) Mark, David Jr., Barbara, and Scott; Arkansas, ca. 1980s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#33: David Pryor shaking hands with President George H. W. Bush, ca. 1989
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

David Pryor © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#35: David Pryor portrait. ca. late 1980s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#36: David Pryor talking with Hillary Clinton, ca. 1990s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Senator David Pryor teaching an American Issues class; Old Main, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2003 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#38: Senator David Pryor teaching an American Issues class; Old Main, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2003
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Pryor family: (top row, l-r) Judith, Dee, Barbara, Adams, Jill, Mark (middle row) Diane, David, Porter (bottom row) Scott, Devin, Hampton; 2009 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#40: Pryor family: (top row, l-r) Judith, Dee, Barbara, Adams, Jill, Mark (middle row) Diane, David, Porter (bottom row) Scott, Devin, Hampton; 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas