Professor's Film Wins CINE Golden Eagle Award
For release: January 5, 2004
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

Hoxie: The First Stand, a film directed by University of Memphis communication professor David Appleby, has won a CINE Golden Eagle award.

The Golden Eagle award recognizes excellence in documentary and other informational film and video production in semi-annual competitions. CINE was founded in 1957 by a consortium representing business, education and government to depict American life and thought realistically to a global audience.

Hoxie follows a 1955 decision by the school board of a small Arkansas town to integrate its schools voluntarily, setting off a confrontation with a growing Southern movement to resist the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown vs. Board of Education decision. Despite threats from outside agitators and local opposition, Hoxie school board members refused to rescind their decision. Instead, they sought the help of a lawyer whose legal strategy ultimately drew a reluctant federal Justice Department into the integration battle and led to the nullification of state segregation laws.

"We're very proud of David's CINE award - his third," said Dr. Richard Ranta, dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts. "We're particularly pleased that this film, about a historic civil rights event that happened in the Mid-South, was honored."

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