Our Arklahoma Heritage: Scott County standout athlete, veteran, and mayor's legacy lives on in namesake park

Gene "Sodie" Davidson was a multi-sport standout from rural Scott County who became one of the early stars of University of Arkansas athletics and later a dedicated public servant in his hometown.

Gene Davidson, nicknamed "Sodie," was born on February 19, 1896, in Hon Township, Scott County. His parents were Joe Davidson and Susan Ivey Davidson.

He grew up in the Ouachita Mountains region, where access to organized sports and higher education was limited. He attended Waldron and Fort Smith high schools, where he excelled as a football player.

Davidson attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, playing quarterback for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1915 to 1919 (including the 1916, 1917, and 1919 seasons). He also played outfield for the university's baseball team.

During this era, Arkansas was a charter member of the Southwest Conference, established in 1915. His standout performances earned him All-Southwest quarterback honors in 1916 and 1919, All-Southern recognition in 1917, and the title "Arkansas' Greatest Athlete" in 1919.

He scored five touchdowns in single games during the 1915 and 1916 seasons, a mark that ranked second in program history for decades.

During World War I, Davidson enlisted in the Army. He was sent to Princeton University for flight training and later assigned to the aviator corps, where he was stationed at Long Island, New York.

After college, Davidson played briefly in minor league baseball with the Fort Smith Twins of the Western Association in 1920. He also played in the old Southeast Arkansas League in the region.

Details of his professional baseball career remain limited, and he did not advance to the major leagues.

Back in Arkansas, he settled in Waldron and built a multifaceted career. He served as president of the Bank of Waldron Hardware Mercantile Company, was county clerk in Scott County for 12 years, and was elected county judge in 1939 for a three-year term.

He served two terms as mayor of Waldron, was a member of the City Council, and belonged to the Waldron Chamber of Commerce. He was also a farmer and stockman, raising Hereford cattle on his 1,200-acre farm in Scott County.

Davidson was a Methodist, a Mason, and a member of Amrita Grotto at Fort Smith.

he died on September 12, 1960, at age 64, in a Fort Smith hospital. His funeral was held at the Forst Methodist Churc hin Waldron, but no recored exsists detailing his burial site.

Davidson's contributions to Arkansas sports were recognized with his induction into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1968. His play helped define the early years of Razorbacks football and baseball before the program gained national prominence.I

n Waldron, the Scott County seat, the community honors him through Sodie Davidson Park, a public recreational space featuring a swimming pool, Sodie Davidson Ballpark, picnic areas, sports fields, playgrounds, and other amenities. The park hosts events like Fourth of July celebrations, swimming lessons, water aerobics, and private gatherings.

It has received state funding for improvements, including Act 800 of 1999 (sponsored by State Representative Evelyn Ammons) for repairs, and a 2024 Outdoor Recreation Grant to add pickleball and basketball courts, enhance the pavilion, soccer field, and accessibility features.

The park serves as a lasting tribute to Davidson's legacy as a local sports icon from nearby Hon Township.Here are representative images of Arkansas community parks with features like playgrounds, pools, and outdoor recreation areas, similar to those at Sodie Davidson Park:

Gene "Sodie" Davidson remains a figure of pride in Scott County and University of Arkansas history.