Four States Living Magazine

06/19/2026

THE COMEBACK FIGHT
Through martial arts, Craig Campbell rebuilt his life and now guides young men
By Madeline Haak

Craig Campbell, professional mixed martial artist and owner of Texarkana Combat Sports, grew up in a family shaped by military service: both of his grandfathers and his father were ranking members in the military (one grandfather even participated in Operation Red Dawn, which led to the capture of Sadam Hussein). In Craig’s family, discipline was a key part of everyday life. He grew up surrounded by structure, resilience, and a drive to excel.

“Values and morals were very strong, and my family expectations were extremely high,” Craig said. “Expectations were always to not only perform at the highest of your abilities but that you should win—and that, if you don’t win at whatever you’re trying to win at, you should work harder and find a way to win.”

As a teenager, Craig earned college scholarships for wrestling, but higher education did not appeal to him. Instead, he intended to follow in his forefathers’ footsteps. “I idealized [military service],” he said. “I saw it as what a man does.”

Read Craig's full story here:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/feature-stories/2026/6/1/the-comeback-fight

06/10/2026

TEACH A MAN TO FISH
Once a recipient of charitable aid, Mark Bledsoe now serves as CEO of the local United Way organization
By Brooke Stone

A proud Texarkana native, Mark Bledsoe has dedicated much of his adult life to strengthening the community that raised him. When Mark was young, his father suffered a serious health scare and was laid off from work. Like many families facing hardship, they leaned on community programs and local support systems to help them get through.

“The community gave to me as a youngster with the services that were offered,” Mark said. “It made me want to give back. My parents always encouraged me to give back when you can, because you never know what life might present you.”

Read Mark's full story here:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/feature-stories/2026/6/1/teach-a-man-to-fish

06/06/2026

MEETING THE NEED
Dr. Denzer Burke, 93, has served Texarkana as a dentist and civic leader for over 60 years
By Jaime Knighton

Respected, community-minded, and deeply accomplished are only a few of the words used to describe Dr. Denzer Burke. Over the course of his 93 years, the dentist and civic servant has made countless contributions to the Texarkana community. Recently featured in the Texas Dental Journal for several decades of membership with the Texas Dental Association, Denzer will celebrate 64 years with the organization this August. However, dentistry represents only one chapter in a long life shaped by military service, civic leadership, faith, and advocacy.

Read Dr. Burke's full story here:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/feature-stories/2026/6/1/meeting-the-need

06/02/2026

A FAMILY HEIRLOOM
Three generations of men work together at Alexander’s Jewelers
By Ellen Orr

In 1955, a Kansas teenager named Marlene Penney walked into a jewelry store and applied for a sales job. That fateful decision was the first in a series of decisions that led to the establishment of Alexander’s Jewelers, a Texarkana legacy brand currently run by three generations of Alexander men. While brothers Van and David now co-own the store, founder Jerry, at 88, continues to work, serving as a mentor to Van’s son, Mitch. The Alexander family’s venture into the jewelry business began almost 70 years ago, when Jerry met Marlene, his bride-to-be.

“As the story goes, my dad’s stepdad went to Kay’s Jewelers and then told my dad, ‘There’s a pretty girl working down there. You need to go see her,’” David relayed. Jerry took his father’s advice, and in 1958, he and Marlene were married. When they learned that they were expecting a child, Jerry took his wife’s place on the Kay’s Jewelers salesfloor—and he was hooked on jewelry. Marlene stayed home while her two children, Van and David, were small. Meanwhile, Jerry climbed the ranks in Kay’s. (Kay’s Jewelers, not to be confused with Kay Jewelers, was a regional chain owned by the SELCO group that closed in the 1980s.)

In service of promotions, the young family moved throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska before being relocated to Texarkana, Texas, in 1966. A few years later, they were to be moved to New Orleans, but Jerry and Marlene refused, choosing to stay in Texarkana. Jerry left Kay’s and went to work at a family-owned store, Owens Jewelers, established in the 1910s. Herman Owens, Jerry, and Marlene became close friends—and, by 1973, business partners. They expanded their Broad Street store into six total locations throughout Texarkana and Mount Pleasant.

Read the Alexanders' full story here:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/feature-stories/2026/6/1/a-family-heirloom

06/01/2026

EXQUISITE INTERIORS
CHARMING. CURATED. COMFORTABLE.
Story by Phoebe Warren | Photos by Shane Darby

Rattan furniture. Patterned curtains. Fine china on display. An increasing number of folks are moving far, far away from stark minimalism and shifting into a new trend, dubbed “grandmillennial style.” This fresh design term was coined by Emma Bazilian in her 2019 article for House Beautiful. Also known as “granny-chic,” this style reinterprets vintage design trends and merges them with modern aesthetics. Floral prints, ruffles, and antiques are given a modern, fresh styling for an interior design trend that is sure to stay.

Recently, Pleasant Grove teacher Hilary Stovall and her family settled into their dream home, a 5-bed, 3.5-bath house that checked off all the boxes on their list. Hilary has given the space a gentle grandmillennial treatment. “My goal was to go for a comfortable, Pottery-Barn-meets-grandmillennial style,” she said. The result is an utterly irresistible space that provides plenty of charm without sacrificing modern sensibilities.

Walking past the entryway into the living room, the color palette leans heavily on warm whites, creams, and light wood tones. Everything feels airy and calm. Floral curtains provide cheer and a splash of color in the living area. Vaulted ceilings, large windows, and an open flow between the living, dining, and kitchen areas give the space a modern foundation. A gorgeous focal point in the living room is a decorative plate wall. This statement piece was designed by Amanda Magness, whose new business is called Collected & Curated: The Plate Wall Co. A few of the plates feature a St. Bernard’s face, a nod to the Stovall family’s dog, Poppy. The other family pet, a mini goldendoodle named Goose, is also artistically represented in the home—by a statue that greets visitors at the front door. “[The dogs] have free range to anywhere their hearts desire in our house,” Hilary said. “I never want our home to be ‘off limits’ to kids or pets.”

Read the full article here:
https://www.fourstatesliving.com/feature-stories/2026/6/1/exquisite-interiors

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

June 1st means a new issue! And it also means graduation time. This issue celebrates area graduates as well as spotlighting some wonderful men who are leaders, fathers, and business giants in our community. Look for the new issue hitting stands today and as always you can view the digital edition on our website.

https://www.fourstatesliving.com/

05/30/2026

It's a beautiful day to come on out and support the youth served at the Red Shield Youth Center of Texarkana. The duck decorating contest is underway and the Duck Race begins at 3 p.m.! 🦆