Still Rompin?

Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins, born in Huntsville and a graduate of Fayetteville High School, became the latest member of Canada’s Walk of Fame at a ceremony on Oct. 4 outside of Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre.

Toronto Star reporter Betsy Powell said Canada’s Walk of Fame “includes a variety of entertainers, writers and sports figures, but it’s a fair bet it now has its first and only Arkansas-born hillbilly.”

Hawkins, 67, recently released his latest album, “Still Cruisin’.” On the CD’s liner notes, Hawkins gives thanks to, among others, friends “King” David Cline of Huntsville and Ken “Aubrey Dog” Davis of Fayetteville. Davis, who works for Tyson Foods in Springdale, developed the official Hawkins Web site: www.pipcom.com/~thehawk.

Hawkins also thanked “the Tysons, the Waltons, Levon Helm, Kris Kristofferson, Beverly DeAngelo, President Clinton and everyone in Arkansas.”

Hawkins, 67, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the summer.

Kristofferson said of Hawkins, “If there’s a god of rock ‘n’ roll, I know he looks just like this guy.”

Hawkins was given the key to the city by Toronto Deputy Mayor Case Ootes, and later told Cline the key “didn’t open one damn bank.”