To commemorate the 1936 Texas Centennial, it was decided to erect statues to nineteen Texas heroes.  Allie Tennent was chosen to sculpt the statue of James Butler Bonham, and she personally supervised the placement in Bonham on December 10, 1938.

On Sunday, December 18, 1938, at 2:00 p.m., Webb Roberts, chairman of the monument and workers division of the State Board of Control, presented the monument—the statue of James Butler Bonham—to Fannin County on behalf of the State of Texas.  County Judge J. E. Spies accepted the monument of this Texas hero on behalf of Fannin County and spoke of the value of this statue to the county.

If you visit the Fannin County Courthouse today and take a close look at the statue you will see that the wax protective coating is gone and the bronze is bleeding green and in the process of deterioration.  Fannin  County having been chosen to receive the honor of having a permanent historical reminder of Texas history, the Fannin County Historical Commission asks all the towns and citizens in Fannin County to contribute to the restoration of this monument.  Bonham and Windom residents and organizations have contributed half of the $20,000 needed for this restoration. It is hoped that the rest of the county will help with the second half.

To contribute to the statue restoration, send your contribution to Fannin County Statue Restoration, Fannin County Treasurer, 101 E. Sam Rayburn Drive, Suite 302, Bonham, Texas 75418. All contributions, large or small, will be gratefully appreciated and are tax deductible.

Thank you for helping put a clean face on our statue of James Butler Bonham.