About Us

December 1, 1985 was the charter date for Chapter D of Newport, Arkansas. The first meeting was held on December 5, 1985 at 7:00 PM at the Park Inn Restaurant in Newport, AR. In 1989 the chapter was moved to Jonesboro due to the loss of a meeting place.

In 1990 a group of riders from Paragould, Arkansas called the Ridge Riders joined with Chapter D. The nickname Ridge Riders was very appropriate for Chapter D so it was adopted and has remained our nickname. The Crowley’s Ridge runs through Northeast Arkansas is why we are appropriately called the Ridge Riders. Crowley’s Ridge has been named a National Scenic Byway and just happens to run right through our area. It is one of our favorite places to ride because of its scenic beauty and good motorcycle riding.

Chapter D is very proud to be the oldest chapter in the state of Arkansas. A few other points of pride are that we still have four of the original Charter Members as active chapter participants today. Chapter D has produced one State Director, one Assistant State Director and Arkansas’ first Rider Education Coordinator. Four Chapter D Couples of the Year have gone on to serve as Couple of the Year for Arkansas. Over the years there have been numerous awards for our Scrapbooks, Banners, Chapter Shirts, Newsletters, and to many Bike Show Trophies to count. Chapter D has been the Largest Chapter in attendance at many chapter and district events. Chapter D has the “Right Stuff”.

Come join in the fun as the Chapter D Ridge Riders take to the road and live the GWRRA motto: “Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge”

A Little About the History of Chapter "D"

Wing World
October 2005

Story by Lisa Gravitt

(From left, front row) Charter Members Donna Martin, Jones Martin, Charles Reeves, Jean Cleeves and Ed Cleeves. (Second row) Verlin Brown, Irish Brown, Denzil Smith, Pat Smith, Jennie McBride, Jim Keas and Deb Keas. (Third row) Jerry Myers, Gena Myers, Mike Kornafel, Bill McBride, Emmy Lambert, Kathy Hall and Wayne Hall. (Fourth row) Larry Davis, Gwen Davis, Allen Brown and Dean Lambert (Fifth row) Karen Brown, Tommy Brown and Mykle Carruth.

Chapter AR-D, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, is celebrating 20 years with GWRRA. There are 46 active participants and five of the founding Members, Jones & Donna Martin, Ed & Jean Cleaves and Charles Reeves are still active. Chapter D is the oldest existing Chapter in the State of Arkansas, and it is currently the only GWRRA Chapter in northeast Arkansas, with its participants coming from Jonesboro, Trumann, Paragould, Imboden, Pocahontas, Blytheville, Manila, Marion, Bono, Bay and Brookland. Chapter D is known locally as “The Ridge Riders” because the Chapter is located on Crowley’s Ridge. The current Chapter staff is composed of Chapter Director Jones Martin, Assistant Chapter Director Denzil Smith, Chapter Educator Larry Davis, Treasurer Don Smith, Newsletter Editor Donna Martin, Historian Pat Smith, Rally Coordinators Dean & Emmy Lambert, and Larry & Gwen Davis, Chapter Couple of the Year.

Although the current facts about the Chapter are interesting, the real story is how it all began 20 years ago with 10 people in Newport, Arkansas. The first meeting was held on December 5, 1985, with 10 Chapter Members present. This number grew to 18 Members in the first 90 days of the charter. Out of those 18, the five charter Members listed above are active in the Chapter, and have been very involved on both Chapter and District levels over the past 20 years. 
      Jones Martin has been the Chapter Director three times and District Director from 1988 to 1992. Donna Martin has served as the newsletter editor on both the Chapter and state levels. Jones & Donna were the Arkansas Couple of the Year in 1993. Jean Cleaves has been the treasurer at both the Chapter and District levels and she has served as the door prize coordinator for Chapter D. Charles Reeves was instrumental in establishing the Rider Education program in Arkansas and served as the first District Coordinator. Later, he served on the Chapter level as Rider Educator. He has also served as the Ways and Means Coordinator for the state.
      Our meetings were held in Newport from 1985 until 1988 when they were moved to Jonesboro. The location of the meeting moved to several different restaurants in Jonesboro but the date has always stayed the same. Chapter D meets on the first Sunday afternoon of the month. Currently, the meetings are held at the Western Sizzlin’ in Jonesboro with eating at 1:30 and the meeting at 2:30.
      Chapter Members work hard to raise money for several charities. Chapter D has participated in the Toy Ride for Arkansas Children’s Hospital for 20 years. Members not only participated in the ride, but raise and contribute money to purchase TVs and VCRs for the hospital. St. Jude’s Hospital also receives an annual gift from Chapter D. Chapter Members donate their time to assist the local Lions Club collecting discarded prescriptions glasses for distribution in foreign countries. The Chapter has also sponsored a drive for the Salvation Army and made a contribution to the Sheriff’s Boys Ranch. Members have worked as escorts for the March of Dimes bike-athons and the Ridge Runner Triathlon.
      Although the Chapter’s actual birthday is in December, Chapter D has plans to celebrate all year with several dinner rides to Newport, pot luck dinners, a Member Appreciation Day, a Bike Show at Indian Mall, Rally of the Ridge, and a big birthday celebration on December 4. Come help us celebrate twenty years with GWRRA!

Photography by Don Nall

GWRRA Arkansas Chapter "D"

Meetings were held in Newport, AR until 1989 when the chapter was moved to Jonesboro.

In 1990 a group of riders from Paragould, Arkansas called the Ridge Riders joined with Chapter D. The nickname Ridge Riders was very appropriate for Chapter D so it was adopted and has remained our nickname. The Crowley’s Ridge runs through Northeast Arkansas and is why we are appropriately called the Ridge Riders. The Chapter Patch to your left was drawn by Jackie James and adopted as our official Chapter Patch.

In 2009 it was decided that we need a Chapter Mascot and due to the fact that we live in Northeast Arkansas and have a large population of mosquitoes that would be our mascot.

The next problem was where to
Arleen Web offered her
mascot. We named our mascot
of Skee D, our Banners with
Scrapbook with Skee D. on it.
creation of Arleen Web.

find one; no problem,
services to make the
Skee D. Below are pictures
Skee D on them and our
All the items are the

Chapter D’s Beautiful Motorcycles

There are a lot of beautiful motorcycles and trikes in Chapter D and we love to show them off in various ways; Mall Shows, Bike Shows, Light Shows, and Parades. Below you will find a few pictures taken over the years that will show you what I mean.