Ronald N. Davies, U.S. Judge In Little Rock Case, Dies at 91
Ronald N. Davies, the federal judge who ordered racial integration in the schools of Little Rock, Ark., died April 18. He was 91.
In the historic 1957 case, Judge Davies ordered the Little Rock school board to abide by the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled school segregation unconstitutional, and allow black students to attend its schools.
The judge prohibited Gov. Orval E. Faubus, who had called out the National Guard to prevent integration at Central High School, from interfering. On Sept. 23, 1957, nine black students entered the school and were then removed as white students rioted outside. Two days later, the black students returned escorted by 1,200 federal troops ordered by President Eisenhower.
Mr. Davies was appointed to the U.S. District Court in 1955. He retired in 1984.
