2024 Walk of Fame inductees include Sonny Liston, Monster Michael Todd, and Beautiful Bruce Swayze. Submitted photos.
Since 1996, the Arkansas Walk Of Fame has celebrated the lives of Arkansans by placing their plaques on the sidewalk by the Visitors Center in Downtown Hot Springs. This year’s ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 19, at 11:00 AM, at the Historic Vapors, at 315 Park Avenue. The “Class of 2024” is honoring three men in sports who were not widely known for their Arkansas connections.
Beautiful Bruce Swayze of Hot Springs, went from the Canadian Steel Mills to sports, enjoying years of football, baseball, and hockey, and started professional wrestling in 1958. Known as ‘The Black Baron’ while managing, he settled in Hot Springs with his wife, Bonnie Swayze of Alliance Rubber. A fellow wrestler known as Hillbilly Jim Morris, all 6’ 7” of him, is coming from Kentucky to introduce Bruce.
Monster Michael Todd is recognized as the 2024 King of the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Globally, he is known as the most reputable arm wrestler of all time, with 23 World Titles and 36 National titles. While in Hot Springs he promotes Health and Fitness through The Monster Factory-Where Monsters Become Real!
World Heavyweight Champion Boxer Sonny Liston is being posthumously inducted. Born in Sand Slough, Arkansas, of 54 bouts, 39 were knockouts with his massive 15” fists. May 25, 1965, against Cassius Clay’s infamous “phantom punch,” became a Life Magazine cover. The most intimidating man of boxing, passed alone in Las Vegas, on January 5, 1971. His epitaph reads: A Man.
