ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank everyone who played a role in the creation of this book. Title manager Julia Simpson and publishing editor Lydia Rollins at Arcadia Publishing provided me with opportunity, inspiration, and encouragement throughout this project and helped keep me stay on track. A big thank-you goes to Hot Springs National Park superintendent Josie Fernandez for giving me access to the park’s archival collection, and to chief of resource management and visitor services Mike Kusch, who took time from his busy schedule to review the manuscript. My thanks go to Liz Robbins and the staff at the Garland County Historical Society, who allowed me into their great collection of photographs and entertained me with dozens of stories about the city. I especially want to thank James O. Cary for being so kind to let me visit with him in his home in Dallas and to borrow a photograph of his father. It was an afternoon that I will not forget. Thank you also to my sports historian and great brother-in-law Mike Dugan for letting me use the photographs of his great-grandfather and providing me with information on the baseball players who made Hot Springs their second home. Thanks go to retired interpretive ranger Gail Payton Sears, who generously provided me with information on her great-grandfather and his career. My parents, Joyce and Lavan Bell, my sister Susan Bell Dugan, and my friend James Sanderson all get a huge thank-you for their proofreading, suggestions, and support that only made this project better. Most of all, I want to thank my wonderful husband, Tom Hill, the curator at the park, who answered endless questions with patience and lots of humor when I needed it.

Unless otherwise noted, photographs in this book are pulled from the Hot Springs National Park archives. Images from other sources are credited within their captions. All errors or omissions made in this manuscript are solely my responsibility.