Organizers of an initiative, wanting to add a statue of an African American State Senator from Washington County who was instrumental in the creation of Texas A&M University, have announced they raised the necessary funds to build one.
The announcement comes a week after the Sul Ross statue on the Texas A&M campus was defaced. Major gifts to the statue, which honors Matthew Gaines and the 12th Texas Legislature, included o$125,000 from the A&M system chancellor, and another $100,000 from the president’s office.
Once funding is secured and an artist selected, President Michael Young says he is looking forward to working with students to complete the project.
A location has not been selected. It is likely the location will be discussed by a commission recently created by Young that will also review the names and historical content of all A and M statues, monuments, and buildings.
