The Student and the Teacher

On August 12, 2026, Fred Spencer Boosey II departed this earth. As a teacher, he was a Parkview High School Patriot for thirty-seven years, developing students’ talents and encouraging young people to expand their visions and explore possibilities.

His accomplishments are many, but four stand out for the impact on students: Mimes at Parkview, the Medieval Feast, one of the best debate teams in the state, and Tales of the Crypt at Mount Holly Cemetery. Students who participated in any of these will always have something to say about them.

Students at Central High School in what is now Helena-West Helena experienced his gift of education before he joined the Little Rock School District. A 1968 graduate of Hall High School, he had an academic career that included studies at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Henderson State University.

Mr. Boosey worked to build the first auditorium in the Little Rock School District equipped to benefit all arts programs and student activities. His vision included the transformation of Parkview into the Arts & Science Magnet High School for the tri-district area of Pulaski County (Little Rock School District, North Little Rock School District, and Pulaski County School District) in 1987.

I met Mr. Boosey at Parkview in the late 1970s. I discovered him during my usual investigations of what was happening in other rooms as I wandered around the school during the “free time” I developed from bathroom breaks or office visits. His eyes smiled in acknowledgement that my curiosity was a good thing. He may have officially been the speech and drama teacher, but in my eyes, he was a coach. Like Coach Ripley, he developed discipline. Like Coach Goodwin, he expected commitment. Like Coach Kelly, he expected consistency. Like Coach Choate, who taught me driver’s education, he expected adjustments when needed. It was a quiet direction he gave through eye contact and a smile. Although I never enrolled in one of his classes, I was his student in the hallways.

We met again in the research room at the Central Arkansas Library System’s Bobby L. Roberts Library. He brought students down to the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies to learn research techniques for the annual Tales of the Crypt presentation at Mount Holly Cemetery. He was shocked to see me but excited to share my alumni status with the students.

From that moment on, students would ask for my assistance when doing their research. We started with the Mount Holly Burial Index to confirm facts they knew. City directories, United States Census databases, and newspapers provided more personal details they could include in their presentations.

According to the Tales of the Crypt page on the Mount Holly Cemetery website:

“Students from the Drama Department of Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School in Little Rock research a person buried in Mount Holly. Student guides lead the audience through the cemetery, stopping at the graves where student actors are stationed. The actors deliver short monologues or dialogues to highlight their characters’ history and lives, and they wear period costumes created by costumer Holly Payne.

This year’s performance of Tales of the Crypt is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Fred Boosey, former Theatre teacher at Parkview Arts-Science Magnet. In 1995, he was the first director of Tales of the Crypt. Through his eyes, students learned to appreciate the history of Mount Holly Cemetery. He relished working with the actors on their performances. To him, Tales of the Crypt perfectly combines interesting information and engaging entertainment. Mr. Boosey continued to come to ‘press day’ each year after his retirement to watch the students’ performances and offer his support to Mount Holly and Parkview’s combined efforts on Tales of the Crypt.”

The popularity of the program over the years is a testament to the devotion of Fred Spencer Boosey II sharing his love for the arts directly and indirectly with students.

His earthly remains are in a family plot in the Oakland & Fraternal Historic Cemetery Park. I can imagine his smile at the thought of his physical connection to two of the most iconic spaces in the city of Little Rock for those who have exited this world.

Come see us in the Research Room in the CALS Roberts Library to make your own discoveries. Visit the CALS website (opens in new window) for Roberts Library visiting information (opens in new window).

Rhonda Stewart is the genealogy and local history specialist for the Central Arkansas Library System’s Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, housed in the CALS Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art.