Boyd Cypert

Alfred Boyd Cypert
JD
Arkansas Sixth Judicial District Attorney
In office
1926–1931
Deputy Carl Edward Bailey
Succeeded by Carl Edward Bailey
Constituency Pulaski and Perry County, Arkansas
Personal details
Born Little Rock, Arkansas
(1889-08-08)August 8, 1889
Died Washington, D.C.
January 9, 1973(1973-01-09) (aged 83)
Resting place National Memorial Park
Political party Democratic Pary
Spouse(s) Blanche Cypert
Alma mater University of Arkansas, Harvard Law School
Profession Baseball player, lawyer
Military service
Service/branch United States Army
Battles/wars World 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 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

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-bats 1
Hits 0
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.[3] While at school, he played third base for the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team.[3] He also was the quarterback for the Arkansas Razorbacks football for three years (1910–12).[3]

In 1912, Cypert enrolled at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[4] He graduated in 1913.[4] Cypert signed a professional baseball contract in 1913.[3] He played his first and only professional game on June 27, 1914 as a member of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Cleveland Naps.[5] In that game, he struck out once in one at-bat.[5] Defensively, Cypert played third base.[5] During World War I, Cypert served in the United States Army and later received an honorable discharge.[6] In 1921, Cypret was a pitcher for the Arkansas Razorbacks alumni baseball team.[7]

Law and political career

By 1920, Cypert worked as a general practice lawyer in Little Rock, Arkansas.[8] In late-January 1922, Cypert was nominated for the position of district attorney in Little Rock.[9] However, it was not until 1926 when Cypert was elected Arkansas Sixth Judicial District Attorney.[10] His constituency covered Pulaski and Perry County, Arkansas.[10] His deputy district attorney was Carl Edward Bailey, who would later go-on to be the Governor of Arkansas.[10] 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".[11][12]

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.[13] 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.[14] In 1931, Cypert ran for Arkansas Attorney General against Hal Norwood, who previously held the office.[15] Cypert eventually lost the race.[15] He was succeeded at his position of Arkansas Sixth Judicial District Attorney by Carl Edward Bailey.[10]

Later life

By 1930, Cypert was living in Little Rock, Arkansas with his wife, Blanch Cypert and their daughter, Belly.[16] Boyd Cypert was hired as the University of Arkansas' business manager in 1934.[17] In 1936, Cypert considered running for Arkansas Attorney General again.[18] He died on January 9, 1973 at the age of 83 in Washington, D.C.[5]

References

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

External links

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