In the very first issue of this magazine, way back in August 2000, I wrote about one of Fort Smith's most legendary and heroic frontier lawmen – U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves.

The theme of that column was that you never know who in the world might have a reason for keeping Fort Smith in mind. One of my examples was Morgan Freeman, one of my favorite actors.

I had an unexpected chance to talk briefly with Freeman in 2000 while I was in Memphis doing backstage interviews for a live internet transmission of the W.C. Handy Awards. The Handys, which have since been renamed the Blues Music Awards, are the blues music industry's equivalent of the Grammys. And Freeman, an avid blues fan, was there to help blues great Little Milton present the event's most prestigious award – Blues Entertainer of the Year.

Freeman was keeping a low profile so as not to distract attention from the awards, so it took me a few seconds to recognize the poised, impeccably dressed man I was seated next to backstage was the critically acclaimed actor.

Knowing I would be lucky to talk to Freeman at all, there was one main thing I hoped he would tell me. Quickly, I told him I was from Fort Smith, and knew that he had slipped into town unnoticed at least once to research at our National Historic Site's library one of the most heroic deputy U.S. Marshals, Bass Reeves.

From the few existing photographs of Reeves, he and Freeman even resemble each other, I added, so was it possible that he was getting ready to appear in a movie about Reeves?

Freeman blessed me with one of his wry, cinematic smiles before replaying he had been trying for seven years to get a movie in the works about Bass Reeves. During that time he had been presented with four different scripts, but none of them had been "quite right."

"Westerns aren't very popular right now, so it's a hard sell," Freeman added. (And remember, he was telling me this after he had co-starred with Clint Eastwood in the Oscar-winning western, "The Unforgiven.") "But," he continued, "I intend to keep on it. I want to do it if I have to make it myself."

Well, that was the first and only time I got to discuss Bass Reeves with Morgan Freeman, but I doubt he has yet forgotten about wanting to make a movie about one of the most admirable U.S. deputy marshals ever. Reeves helped enforce the law in the huge federal judicial district presided over by famed "Hanging Judge" Isaac C. Parker in Fort Smith.

Born a slave and never taught to read or write, Reeves memorized his arrest writs from having them read aloud to him and served them to the letter of the law. He once had to track down and arrest his own son for murder.

Reeves had a farm in Van Buren where he reportedly raised some of the finest horses in the area, and was a good provider for his wife, children and mother. He is credited by many writers, then and now, with being one of the most effective and respected lawmen to ever wear a badge.

But near the end of his more than 32 years with the Marshals Service, he was falsely accused of murder and, when brought to trial, was financially ruined by the cost of his successful defense.

After retiring from the Marshals Service, Reeves moved to Muskogee and worked as a city policeman for two years before Bright's disease and other complications caused his death on Jan. 10, 1910.

Although Bass was supposedly buried in Muskogee, a verifiable gravesite has yet to be found, and no headstone is known to exist. Many who acknowledge and revere Reeves – including those of us who write for this magazine – have long regretted that no prominent memorial to Reeves exists in Fort Smith, or anywhere else.

But that will soon change, thanks to ongoing efforts of a small but determined, locally-based Bass Reeves Legacy Initiative Committee. A magnificent, larger-than-life statue of Reeves, on horseback, will be prominently placed at Ross Pendergraft Park in downtown Fort Smith.

The statue was designed by Oklahoma sculptor and artist Harold T. Holder, whose work is nationally known for capturing the spirit of the West.. With its base, the statue will stand 25 feet tall and serve as a fitting, public tribute, at last, to one of this nation's least-publicized heroes.

Thousands must still be raised to pay for the monument and its installation here. Details of how to contribute can be found at the website www.deputybassreeves.com, the website of the Bass Reeves Legacy Initiative Committee.

The Bass Reeves statue will be a great work of art and tribute to Reeves that Fort Smith, its Oklahoma neighbors and, actually, everyone in America can be proud of. It would even be a great cause for schoolchildren – who would especially benefit from learning about Bass Reeves.

Linda Seubold, editor of Entertainment Fort Smith Magazine, can be reached at lindaseubold@efortsmith.com. Read her archived columns and articles online.

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