Boyd Cypert

Alfred Boyd Cypert (August 8, 1889 – January 9, 1973) was an American professional baseball player, lawyer, Democratic Party politician and business manager. Cypert was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and attended the University of Arkansas where he played baseball and football for the Razorbacks. He enrolled in Harvard Law School in 1912 and graduated in 1913. In 1914, he played one game with the Major League Baseball (MLB) Cleveland Naps. After his baseball career was over, Cypert served as the district attorney in Little Rock and in 1931 ran an unsuccessful bid for Arkansas Attorney General against four-term incumbent Hal Norwood. Later in his life, Cypert served as the business manager of the University of Arkansas' athletic department.

Early life and baseball career Alfred Boyd Cypert was born on August 8, 1889, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Thomas and Bessie Cypert of Arkansas and Tennessee, respectively. In 1900, Thomas Cypert was working as a grocery store clerk in Little Rock. Boyd Cypert had one sibling, his brother Thomas Cypert, Jr. While at school, he played third base for the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team. He graduated in 1913. According to one sports historian, Cypert was the very first player in the major leagues from Little Rock. In that game, he struck out once in one at-bat. In 1921, Cypret was a pitcher for the Arkansas Razorbacks alumni baseball team.

Law and political career By 1920, Cypert worked as a general practice lawyer in Little Rock, Arkansas. In late-January 1922, Cypert was nominated for the position of district attorney in Little Rock. However, it was not until 1926 when Cypert was elected Arkansas Sixth Judicial District Attorney. His constituency covered Pulaski and Perry County, Arkansas.

In November 1928, after the State of Arkansas passed a law banning the teaching of evolution, Cypert stated that he was not going to hunt down offenders, instead that he was going to enforce the law when asked to do so. In 1929, Cypert prosecuted Reece A. Claude, the state railroad commissioner, on bribery charges after investigating a bill in the Arkansas Legislature which Claude allegedly attempted to pay state officials to pass. In 1931, Cypert ran for Arkansas Attorney General against Hal Norwood, who previously held the office. Cypert eventually lost the race. Boyd Cypert was hired as the University of Arkansas' business manager in 1934. In 1936, Cypert considered running for Arkansas Attorney General again. He died on January 9, 1973, at the age of 83 in Washington, D.C.