Sandi Sanders recognized for work in launching Marshals Museum project

 

Family, friends and U.S. Marshal’s Museum supporters packed a first-floor conference room at the Fort Smith headquarters of Arkansas Best Corp. on Monday (Mar. 8) to recognize Sandi Sanders for her work as the founding project director of the museum.

In January 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. Sanders was hired in April 2007 to direct efforts to devise and implement plans for the design, construction and funding of the museum. To fund the effort to get the museum built, the project received $100,000 from the city of Fort Smith, $115,000 from Sebastian County, $200,000 from the state Legislature and $2 million from Gov. Mike Beebe.

In July 2009, Fort Smith attorney Jim Dunn was hired as the new museum project director, with Sanders focusing her efforts on national fundraising. In November, Barbara Harvel was hired as the new director of development of the museum’s fundraising effort, and Sanders was named vice chair of the U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation Board.

Robert A. Young III, chairman of the U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation Board of Directors and chairman of Fort Smith-based Arkansas Best Corp., said at the Monday evening reception that Sanders was “heroic” in her willingness to step forward and direct the fledgling museum effort.

“She stepped in when there was no infrastructure. … She was it. Not many people will step into that breach,” Young said.

Jim Williamson, chairman of the Museum board, said Sanders’ “leadership skills and vision” helped the project go from “zero dollars” to more than $5 million in less than three years. He said she laid the foundation for future success.

Chris Raper read comments praising Sanders’ efforts made by U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., on the Senate floor. John Hicks did the same for comments made by U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark. Rachael Davis read a proclamation from U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, and Arkansas Reps. Frank Glidewell, R-Barling, Stephanie Malone, R-Fort Smith, and Tracy Pennartz, D-Fort Smith, presented Sanders’ with an Arkansas House of Representatives proclamation and a flag flown over the State Capitol.

Gary Grimes, former Sebastian County Sheriff who now works as a liaison for Gov. Beebe, read a letter from Beebe thanking Sanders for getting the national museum project off the ground.

U.S. Marshal Michael Pearson, assistant director-asset forfeiture division and one of the Marshals involved in the museum selection process, thanked Sanders for being a professional and exemplary representative of the U.S. Marshals Service. He presented her with a large framed certificate and badge making her an honorary Marshal.

Dunn said soon after following Sanders in the director’s job he realized she was more than the director, she was “the heart and soul” of the push to get the national museum off to a good start.

Sanders thanked everyone for their remarks, but noted that “the work still continues to build the museum.” She said the museum staff, citizens of Fort Smith and museum supporters around the nation must continue to work hard to build a museum and operation that “truly honors” the U.S. Marshals Service.