Bass Reeves statue initiative launches $100,000 campaign

The Bass Reeves Legacy Initiative formally launched Thursday night (Sept. 9) its “$100,000 in 100 days” campaign to raise money to fund a large statue of the legendary U.S. Marshal.

The effort has raised more than $100,000 toward the $300,000 goal to fund construction and maintenance of a large statue of Reeves in Pendergraft Park. The tentative schedule for placing the statue, of which Harold Holden has been commissioned to create, was May 2011. However, the Initiative announced Thursday that the dedication has been moved back to September 2011 to be part of the 50th anniversary of the Fort Smith National Historic Site.

Reeves began his career as a deputy U.S. Marshal during the term of U.S. District Judge Isaac Parker. Reeves served as a U.S. Marshal between 1875 and 1910.

Even though Reeves was an African-American and illiterate, he brought in more outlaws  from eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas than anyone else, according to the book, “Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves,” written by Art Burton. He was able to memorize the warrants for every law breaker he was to arrest and bring to trial.

Reeves was an expert tracker and detective, both respected and hated, but mostly feared. Reeves was not the first African-American appointed to serve Judge Parker’s federal court as a deputy U.S. Marshal, but he was the most famous Marshal in his day. He was the first African-American inducted into the Great Westerners Hall of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in 1992.

Part of the effort to raise money and awareness includes coordination with the Fort Smith Partners in Education to read a children’s book about Reeves to all 4th, 5th and 6th graders in the Fort Smith Public School System. The book, “Bad News for Outlaws — The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal,” will be read to students in February 2011 as part of the district’s activities for Black History month. The book, written by Vaunda Nelson, was recently reviewed by Anita Paddock for The City Wire.

The Reeves Initiative is seeking $1,000 sponsors per school to support the program and raise money for the statue, according to volunteer coordinator Julie Moncrief.

“We have to raise money, but this is also an opportunity to educate everyone about who he (Reeves) was. … So, when someone is 30 years old and they walk by the statue, they’ll know what it’s about,” Moncrief said. “His character, what made him great, are still important and we need to present that.”

Moncrief said the overall goal of the reading program is to promote the “strong character” of Reeves, with a special emphasis on his sense of right and wrong and his dedication to duty. Students in the program will be encouraged to write a short essay “about the qualities they liked best,” Moncrief explained. Those essays will be collected and possibly presented in bound form to the National Historic site and/or the U.S. Marshals Museum. An effort will be made to include the reading program at other area school districts, Moncrief said.

Moncrief thanked Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp. President Mike Callan for being the first company sponsor for the Reeves reading program.

“He was excited and just eager to do it. He gets it. He understands why this is important,” Moncrief said.

As to the overall campaign, Initiative Chairman Craig Pair said he is confident the community will see this is a regional project for western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma.

“It’s a big goal, but it’s a doable goal. I think the community is ready for it,” Pair told a group gathered at the Fort Smith Riverfront Park for the launch ceremony. “This is not just about Fort Smith. … It will be part of a historic draw for the entire area and will be part of that (Fort Smith National Historic Site) and the Marshals Museum.”

Those at the launch event were asked to pick up at least five index cards with the names of potential donors and asked to collect an average of $1,000 per name. Pair said “all legal means” are encouraged, and he has gathered five volunteers who will host a dinner party for 25 guests they think will donate to the cause.

Also attending the event were members of the River Valley Marshal Riders and the Lawbreakers and Peacemakers re-enactment group. The Riders are hosting an Oct. 2 horse ride that begins at 1 p.m. at the Harry E. Kelley Park in downtown Fort Smith. A dance following the ride will include a “robbery” conducted by the Lawbreakers and Peacemakers. Tickets are $15 per rider and $10 for the dance. For more info, contact Michelle Ferguson at (479) 522-4552.