HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII was honored by the Great State of Arkansas with the honorary title of “Arkansas Traveler” which is the name given to the official Goodwill Ambassadorship of the State.  The beautiful certificate was signed by the Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Secretary of State Mark Martin. The title is the highest honor given to a person not currently living in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Traveler story is connected to Colonel Sanford C. “Sandy” Faulkner, who was very active in Arkansas politics. He was also involved in banking and farming during the 19th century. As oral history has relayed it, Faulkner had gotten lost in the Ozarks during one of his many political campaigns. Looking for a place to stay overnight, Faulkner wandered by a small, log cabin where he was given lodging and hospitality. Faulkner, who was known for retelling of the event, explained that the settler was at first bad tempered and uncommunicative but became more welcoming when Faulkner proved able to complete playing the tune that the settler had been playing on the fiddle. Faulkner’s story of the “Arkansas Traveler” rapidly became part of the state’s folklore.

The award was approved in a resolution by the Arkansas Legislature. The award was created in early 1941 with the first certificate granted May 20, 1941, to President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Some notable recipients are: US Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. Poet Maya Angelou, Boxer Muhammad Ali, entertainers Garth Brooks, Bob Hope, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, entrepreneur Steve Forbes, Evangelist Billy Graham, etc.