U.S. Marshals Museum Announces $1 Million Gift

Officials with the U.S. Marshals Museum announced Tuesday that it will receive a $1 million contribution from Mrs. Donnie Pendergraft and family in honor of her late husband, Mr. Ross Pendergraft.

The contribution will be used to build the Ross Pendergraft What We Stand For: “Why Marshals?” Theater, a permanent exhibit in the future museum’s Marshals Today gallery.              

“Words cannot express our gratitude for the Pendergraft family and their generous support of the U.S. Marshals Museum,” Jim Dunn, president and CEO of the U.S. Marshals Museum, said in a news release. “We’re honored to name the ‘Why Marshals?’ Theater in honor of Mr. Ross Pendergraft, and we look forward to carrying on his legacy of giving back to the Fort Smith community.” 

 The “Why Marshals?” Theater will serve as an orientation to the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Marshals Museum. The formal, enclosed theater will share the U.S. Marshals Service motto of Justice, Integrity and Service by highlighting the history of the agency and its connection to Fort Smith. The show will last around 10 minutes and will be projected onto the theater’s three large screens.

Ground was broken last September for the $50 million U.S. Marshals Museum near the banks of the Arkansas River in Fort Smith.

The museum could be open late in 2017.