A statue honoring Bass Reeves was unveiled in Muskogee, celebrating his significant contributions to local and Black history in Oklahoma
Reeves, who served as a U.S. Deputy Marshal and a police officer in Muskogee, was celebrated with this statue at the Three Rivers Museum. Mullins mentioned that the Oklahoma Tourism office reached out to her about a project called “Soulful Stories,” aimed at highlighting Black history across the state.
“They wanted towns to share their stories about Black history,” she explained. “Muskogee has a rich Black history, with surrounding towns and a historic Black business district.”
Angie Rush, the director of the museum, noted that the 8-foot statue of Reeves has been eagerly awaited since the announcement of its creation. “This brings awareness to our local police and emergency services,” she said.
The statue was crafted by Joel Randell from Luther, who enjoyed the creative process. “It took about a year to complete,” he shared, detailing the steps from sculpting in clay to the foundry work in Colorado.
Randell expressed gratitude to those who braved the cold to attend the unveiling. “I know more people would have come if it weren’t so chilly, but those who showed up were determined to enjoy the moment,” he said.
The project was made possible by a $20,000 grant from the Muskogee Area Arts Council, along with various donations and a private grant.
During the unveiling, Muskogee Mayor Patrick Cale and Police Chief Johnny Teehee spoke about the statue’s significance to the community and local law enforcement. Teehee reflected, “If I had lived back then, we would have been friends. It’s an honor for the Muskogee Police Department to be associated with Mr. Reeves.”
