Harold H. LANGFORD Et Al., Appellants, v. CITY OF TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS, Et Al., Appellees

HEANEY, Circuit Judge.

We are asked on this appeal to reverse the trial court and to hold, as a matter of law, that two employees of the City of Texarkana, Arkansas, were discharged in violation of their constitutional rights — primarily the right to associate freely with persons of all races.

The underlying facts can be simply stated. Texarkana was selected to participate in the federal government’s Model Cities Program. The Community Development Department of the City was given the responsibility for administering the program, and Tom McRae was named director of that department. McRae hired…