Biography of William W. Benton, St Francis County, AR

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Submitted by: Paul V Isbell
        Date: 19 Nov 2008
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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The practice of dentistry calls forth the best in a man and makes necessary a
full comprehension of both theory and application in a particular technical
field. Dr. William W. Benton opened his practice in Forrest City in June 1949.
He was born in Joplin, Missouri on Sep. 4, 1920, the son of W. A. and Georgia
(Thayer) Benton, later of West Helena. The elder Benton is a distant relative of
Thomas Hart Benton, State Senator of Missouri for 30 years, and a distant cousin
of the artist Thomas H. Benton. Dr. Benton graduated from Kilgore, Texas High
School, and then studied at the University of Arkansas from 1939 to 1942, when
World War II interrupted his schooling. He enlisted in the U. S. Army and was
assigned to the 33rd Division, 130rd Infantry where he served for two and a half
years overseas, seeing action in the New Guinea and Philippine campaigns.
Wounded in battle, he received the Purple Heart Medal and also received the
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars. He received his honorable
discharge in November 1945 with the grade of Technical Corporal, 5th Grade. He
enrolled with the University of Tennessee Dental College and in 1949 received
his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree. On Apr. 26, 1946, he married Miss Maxine
Crisman, daughter of Guy and Minnie (Dagnell) Crisman of Kilgore, Texas. They
are the parents of two children aged 7 and 2. Dr. Benton belongs to the American
Dental Association, the Northeast Dental Society, the Graham Memorial
Presbyterian Church, Lions Club, and the Chamber of Commerce.


SOURCE:
HISTORY of ST. FRANCIS COUNTY, ARKANSAS, 1954 - Robert W. Chowning

Copyright, with Permission: Weston McCollum Lewey, Publisher
-Times Herald Publishing-Forrest City, Arkansas