The birthplace of James Butler Bonham still stands in Saluda, South Carolina, thanks to the vision and preservation efforts of the Saluda County Historical Society. 

In a similar effort, the Fannin County Historical Commission is determined to ensure the larger-than-life statue of the Alamo hero in downtown Bonham is properly restored.

The statue of James Butler Bonham is in dire need of repair, but a spirited fundraising drive to repair the statue has passed the halfway point.

Repair cost is estimated to be slightly more than $20,000 and over $11,000 has been donated so far, with private citizens and local businesses spearheading the drive. To date, Windom Lions Club is the only organization to contribute to this cause. In fact, two donations have come from Windom, making it the only city other than Bonham to help with this fundraiser.

What makes this fundraising drive so impressive is that Fannin County Historical Commission is halfway to its goal with no contributions from either the City of Bonham or Fannin County.

Sharon Terry of Fannin County Historical Commission reports that, to commemorate the 1936 Texas Centennial, artists were commissioned to sculpt 19 statues of Texas heroes. Internationally acclaimed artist Allie Tennant was selected to create the statue of James Butler Bonham and the preeminent American sculptor was in Bonham just over 74 years ago to watch her statue lowered onto a marble base on the southeast corner of the Bonham Square. Fannin County Judge J.E. Spies accepted the monument of this Texas hero on behalf of Fannin County.

Now it is up to the residents of Fannin County to repair this spectacular gift that embodies art, culture and history.

According to The Handbook of Texas Online, Tennant's best-known work is the nine-foot-high gilded-bronze Tejas Warrior that has graced the entrance doorway of the Texas Centennial Hall of State building in Dallas for 75 years.

In 1938, the same year Tennant finished the James Butler Bonham statue, she also sculpted the Antonio Navarro Memorial in Corsicana, Texas. Tennant was commissioned by Work Projects Administration to carve the relief Cattle, Oil, and Wheat for the post office in Electra, Texas which was completed in 1940.

Tennant exhibited work at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (1935), the Art Institute of Chicago (1935), the Kansas City Art Institute (1935), the Architectural League of New York (1938), the World's Fair in New York (1939), the Whitney Museum of American Art (1940), the National Sculpture Society (1940), and the Carnegie Institute (1941).

Once word spread that Tennant's sculpture of James Butler Bonham had deteriorated significantly, Bonham High School graduates led the charge to restore the historic statue.  The Bonhi classes of the '40s, '50s and '60s have played prominent roles in the fundraising so far.

Tom Thornton, chairman of the Fannin County Historical Commission, hopes to have the statue repaired by its 75th birthday, which would be December 18, 2013. 

Donations are tax-deductible.

Please send donations to:

Fannin County Statue Restoration
Fannin County Treasurer Mike Towery
101 E. Sam Rayburn Drive, Suite 302
Bonham TX 75418