"We have lost one of our true heroes."

—former President Bill Clinton

On September 13, 2003, Governor Sidney McMath received the first advance copy of his memoir, Promises Kept. That day, as he held his copy, the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Texas Longhorns 38-28, and at the end of the game he turned to his son Phillip and said, "This is a good day for me. My book is published, and we beat Texas."

Almost one month later, a gala event was held at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock to kick off the publication of his memoir and the If All Arkansas Read the Same Book campaign. The evening was sponsored by the University of Arkansas Press, the Arkansas Center for the Book at the Arkansas State Library and a host of Arkansas’s museums, institutions, schools, and bookstores.

Though failing in health, Governor McMath was able to attend the event and speak to those gathered to celebrate his life of public service and his legacy in the state of Arkansas.

Sidney McMath died in his Little Rock home 24 hours later on October 4. He was 91 years old.

The University of Arkansas Press and the Arkansas Center for the Book will be moving forward on all events dedicated to Governor McMath and Promises Kept. Scheduled speakers include various family members of the late governor, and the Honorable David Pryor will be the featured speaker at the Fayetteville event on October 21.

For a complete schedule of dates, times and locations celebrating the memoirs of the late governor, please visit http://www.uapress.com/.