Monument for Founder of Fort Worth, Major Ripley Allen Arnold, to be Celebrated with Fanfare Friday, June 6
May 23,2014
Community Leaders Dedicate John V. McMillan Plaza with Air National Guard Band and Native American Dance
FORT WORTH – Just one year after breaking ground at the site, community leaders will dedicate the John V. McMillan Plaza and unveil the Major Ripley Allen Arnold Monument during a June 6 ceremony along the banks of the Trinity River in Fort Worth. Built primarily through contributions by the Tarrant Regional Water District and the Anfin Family, the plaza will honor two important figures in the city’s history.
FRIDAY, JUNE 6 at 10 a.m.
FREE - Public is invited
Public Parking – Panther Island Pavilion Parking Lot, 395 West Purcey Street
Media Parking - From 121, take Belknap West to Taylor Street. Go Right on Taylor. Close parking will be available for cameras/reporters. Call Julie at 817-919-7648 for questions.
The plaza is located on Panther Island, near the original site of the fort, directly behind TCC Trinity River campus at the confluence of the Clear Fork and the West Fork of the Trinity River. The celebratory event will:
• Unveil the statue of Major Ripley Allen Arnold , founder of Fort Worth
• Offer music from the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest
• Presentation of the colors by the Comanche Indian Veterans Association (CIVA) and the NAS Fort Worth JRB Joint Color Guard
• Remarks by community leaders, including:
o U.S. Congresswoman Kay Granger
o Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price
o Pete Geren, President and CEO of the Sid Richardson Foundation
o Former Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr
o Commander Gil Miller, NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base
• Music and dance from The Sovo Family of Drummers and Dancers: The Lords of the Plains - Native American - as seen in Lonesome Dove & National Geographic.
McMillan, who died 2001, was a successful businessman, humanitarian and civic leader who founded Coors Distributing Company. He served as the president of the North Fort Worth Business Association and the Mexican American Chamber of Commerce, now named the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. McMillan also served on the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, and was chairman of the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The centerpiece of the plaza is a 12-foot-tall bronze statue of Fort Worth’s founder, Major Ripley Arnold, who established a post on the Trinity River in 1849 and constructed a fort named after General William J. Worth. The statue was created by sculptor Archie St. Clair.
“The Trinity River is why we are here,” said Granger. “As we move forward with the construction of Panther Island, it’s important that we embrace Fort Worth’s rich history and show our recognition with a memorial on the banks of the river.”
Additional support for the plaza was provided by The Burnett Foundation, Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc., RadioShack and the Tarrant County College District.
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About the Trinity River Vision Authority (TRVA)
TRVA is responsible for implementation of a public infrastructure project that provides needed flood protection and fosters the development of an exciting, pedestrian oriented, urban waterfront neighborhood in Fort Worth. TRVA aims to attract business and entertainment to the district and is in charge of programming public spaces including the Panther Island Pavilion and the future John V. McMillan Plaza.
About the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD)
The Tarrant Regional Water District provides raw water to more than 1.8 million people in 11 North Texas counties, making it one of the largest water suppliers in Texas. It also manages a 27-mile floodway system along the Trinity River in Fort Worth, and provides numerous recreational opportunities for the many communities within its service area such as the 70-mile Trinity Trails System in Fort Worth and Eagle Mountain Park in northwest Tarrant County.