State officials formally dedicated a portrait of Bass Reeves at the Arkansas State Capitol on Wednesday. The legendary lawman becomes the first Black person and the first non-governor to have their portrait on display in the building.
Secretary of State John Thurston presided over the occasion, saying Reeves escaped slavery to become one of the most iconic figures of the American West.
“He did not allow his chains, both figuratively and literally, to hold him back from fulfilling his calling… his desire to contribute to society that at one point had him enslaved, is remarkable and led to an extraordinary career and reputation that made him a legendary figure in law enforcement history,” Thurston said.
Born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Reeves escaped captivity by fleeing from Texas to the neighboring Indian Territory, now the state of Oklahoma. He began working as a Deputy U.S. Marshal under the notorious “Hanging Judge” Isaac C. Parker in 1875. Reeves later served as a police officer in Muskogee, Okla., where he died in 1910.
Cory Harris, acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas, said the portrait stands as a testament to Reeves’ legendary career.
“Bass Reeves rose above unimaginable challenges to become one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi River, having arrested over 3,000 fugitives with unwavering fairness,” Harris said. “Bass’ life is a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of quality, even in the face of adversity.”
State Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, was instrumental in getting the portrait commissioned. He said Reeves’ story deserves more attention.
“People need to realize, during that time before statehood in Oklahoma, there were over 100 U.S. Marshals killed in the line of duty during that time. So that shows you how brave and fearless he really was, and to take on the elements that he did and live in the time that he did and have the law enforcement career that he had, unblemished throughout many years,” King said.
Thurston commissioned the portrait earlier this year alongside the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith. For the portrait’s artist, James Loveless, Reeves was a familiar subject.
“I’ve done several of his portraits on horseback and other situations, but to be able to do this particular portrait has been such a blessing,” Loveless said.
Reeves’ life and work wrangling outlaws has been retold in several adaptations, including a recent Paramount+ show titled “Lawmen: Bass Reeves.” Other tributes to Reeves include a monument unveiled in downtown Fort Smith in 2012.
