$2 million gift secured for Sicard Hall of Honor at planned U.S. Marshals Museum

Funding for the planned U.S. Marshals Museum in downtown Fort Smith took another step forward with Monday’s (Nov. 2) announcement that First National Bank of Fort Smith helped complete a $2 million gift to fund the Samuel M. Sicard Hall of Honor.

The Samuel M. Sicard Hall of Honor will be a permanent exhibit in the U.S. Marshals Museum. Once complete, it will serve as an area that acknowledges the U.S. Marshals who lost their lives in the line of duty. In the more than 225-year history of the U.S. Marshals Service, more than 250 Marshals died enforcing our nation’s laws.

Earlier this year the bank announced it was increasing its donation from $500,000 to $1 million and seeking $1 million in matching donations for the Hall of Honor project. Samuel T. Sicard, president and CEO of First Bank Corp. and son of the late Samuel M. Sicard, said in Monday’s statement he is grateful for the response to the campaign.

“It is humbling to witness the numerous donations that are being made from the friends and family of my father to the Samuel M. Sicard Hall of Honor,” said Samuel T. Sicard, who also is a U.S. Marshals Museum board member. “My father had a true passion for the U.S. Marshals Museum and also had a profound love for his friends, family and for our community. I am deeply grateful for every gift that was made in his memory and in the memory of all those marshals who sacrificed their lives to carry out justice.” 

Samuel M. Sicard was elected president of the large regional bank holding company in 1977 and eventually added the title of bank board chairman. During his tenure, the bank saw remarkable growth. In 1989, the Fort Smith-based bank was formed into a holding company — First Bank Corp. — and acquired National Bank of Sallisaw, Citizens Bank & Trust of Van Buren, Bank of Rogers and Brown-Hiller-Clark & Associates.

He died August 2011 after a sudden heart attack. Prior to his death, he was an advocate for the museum with the bank first donating $500,000 in 2009. At the time it was the largest single cash donation to the museum.

In January 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the estimated 50,000-square-foot national museum. The museum is to be built on land along the Arkansas River that is being donated by the Robbie Westphal family. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in September, and museum officials hope to have the facility open by late 2017.

The museum will contain three primary exhibition galleries, a temporary exhibits gallery, a Hall of Honor, and a National Learning Center to offer programs for students, adults, and families. The three galleries are: “Marshals Today,” an overview of the role of U.S. Marshals in contemporary society; “A Changing Nation,” telling key stories of U.S. Marshals history; and “Frontier Marshals,” bringing law to the ever-changing frontier.

As of Monday, the museum reports it has $26.236 million “committed,” with $22.66 million available after deducting prepaid construction costs and other expenses. The museum’s numbers show it needs $32.869 million to complete the facility, based on a total campaign cost of $55.529 million. The total campaign cost includes $4 million for an endowment and $2.977 million for “contingencies.”