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THEN & NOW
Some famous visitors
1918: William Jennings Bryan, "The Commoner," delivers an address at LaFayette Theatre. A year later he speaks on prohibition at Hay Street Methodist Church.
1919: Gen. John Joseph Pershing, commander of American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I, visits Fort Bragg and addresses residents from the balcony of the Market House.
1922: Annie Oakley stages a Western show during Camp Bragg's Polo Week.
1931: Crowds line the streets to see aviator Amelia Earhart during her visit for the American Legion Armistice Day air show in Fayetteville.
1942: Betty Grable gives several performances at Fort Bragg with the USO Camp Show "Hollywood Follies."
1942: Thousands scramble to catch a glimpse of actor Mickey Rooney as he gets off the train in Fayetteville on his way to entertain troops at Fort Bragg.
1944: Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis gives a three-round exhibition bout at Fort Bragg before a capacity crowd, and Cpl. Sugar Ray Robinson, welterweight boxing champion, gives a two-round exhibition against Sgt. Jimmie Edgar, seventh-ranked welterweight.
1947: Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, chief of staff of the U.S. Army and commander of Allied forces in Europe in World War II, tours Fort Bragg.
1949: President Harry S. Truman is greeted at Fort Bragg by Gov. Bob Scott and other dignitaries and reviews more than 20,000 troops.
1954: Singer Marian Anderson performs for a capacity audience at Fayetteville State Teachers College (now FSU).
1954: Actor Audie Murphy appears at the Carolina Theater in Fayetteville to promote the release of his new movie "Ride Clear of Diablo."
1960: Lady Bird Johnson, wife of Democratic vice presidential candidate Lyndon B. Johnson, visits Fayetteville on a campaign tour of North Carolina.
1965: Sen. Robert F. Kennedy speaks at the dedication of the academic and headquarters building at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center.
1965: Boxer Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) attracts a huge crowd when he stops in Fayetteville after a highway bus mishap while traveling through the state. In 1986, Ali is in town to generate ticket sales for the boxing match between James "Bonecrusher" Smith and David Bey. A year later, he is the main attraction at the grand opening of the newly renovated commissary at Fort Bragg. And in 1991 he attends the fourth annual dedication of the Ibn Sayyid Masjid mosque at 845 Southern Ave.
1966: Actor John Wayne visits the John F. Kennedy Center for Special Warfare for briefings in preparation for a new movie.
1968: President Lyndon B. Johnson gives words of encouragement to Fort Bragg troops preparing to deploy to Vietnam.
1972: Mystery writer Mickey Spillane is a guest speaker at the Fort Bragg Officers' Wives Club.
1974: President Gerald Ford makes a brief visit to Pope Air Force Base while on his way to the dedication of the World Golf Hall of Fame in Pinehurst.
1977: President Jimmy Carter and his family attend the wedding of the president's nephew in Fayetteville.
1982: Former New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath stars in "Guys And Dolls" at Fort Bragg Playhouse.
1983: Comedian Red Skelton spends a week in Fayetteville as the celebrity guest for Fayetteville's first Dogwood Festival.
1988: Actress Martha Raye visits Fayetteville during the annual Special Forces Association Convention.
1991: Actress Elizabeth Taylor pays a visit to troops at Fort Bragg.
1994: President Bill Clinton visits injured troops at Fort Bragg's Womack Army Medical Center.
2002: President George W. Bush speaks at Cumberland County Crown Arena before a visit to Fort Bragg.
2002: Actress Bo Derek visits the Special Forces Association Headquarters and goes to Fort Bragg to greet soldiers who fought in Afghanistan.
2003: Country superstar Faith Hill performs for about 7,000 soldiers and airmen and their families at Hedrick Stadium. ABC's "Good Morning America" broadcasts live from the stadium during the performance.
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