FORT DAVIS Administrative History

On January 13, 1985, Fort Davis hosted the groundbreaking ceremonies for the barracks restoration project. While donations for rehabilitation had come rather easily, support from the private sector for the furnishings lagged. At this juncture, Bill Gwaltney began another letter-writing campaign to increase awareness in the story of Fort Davis, developing a host of imaginative ventures that would earn him accolades within the NPS by the time he left the park the following year. Gwaltney's efforts began in February 1985 when he approached Victor Julian, director of national events for the Anheuser-Busch brewing company of St. Louis. Fort Davis needed "replicas of the furniture, footlockers, and uniform parts of the Indian Wars Period" for the barracks, which he estimated would cost about $30,000. Gwaltney had learned of Anheuser-Busch's interest in "supporting the shooting sports," and he proposed that the brewer "purchase 22 replica springfield carbines ($125 each) of the type used by cavalry troopers." As his incentive for Anheuser-Busch, Gwaltney wrote: "It will come as no surprise to you that one of your company's products, Budweiser beer, was a favorite of frontier soldiers," as "many archeological excavations at Western military posts have uncovered dozens of quart sized Budweiser bottles." Fort Davis itself had in its "study collection" "two complete 19th century Budweiser bottles," one of which the park hoped to display as part of the barracks project. [29]

Figure 46. Pablo Bencomo (left) receives certificate at retirement dinner (March 1984). At center is Superintendent Doug McChristian; at right standing is SWR Deputy Director Donal Dayton.
Courtesy Fort Davis NHS.

Gwaltney drafted similar letters to many organizations nationwide in search of furnishing monies, and read widely in magazines and newspapers that carried stories about the black military experience. In February 1985, Gwaltney agreed to travel to Odessa to speak to a black church service on the meaning of the black soldier's life. In like manner, Superintendent McChristian notified Colonel James Revels, U.S.A. (retired), of El Paso that he had read the latter's article in the El Paso Times entitled, "Buffalo Soldiers Defended Southwest." "Quite honestly," the superintendent informed Revels, "we need assistance in the greater El Paso area as we have no representation there at present." McChristian suggested that "one or a series of news articles would be valuable in drawing public attention to the project." Also solicited by McChristian in El Paso was Keith Kochenour, director of creative services for the Publishers and Advertising Specialists of that city. Kochenour organized the Paso Del Norte Gun Show in April 1985, and Fort Davis had asked for exhibit space there. McChristian wished to draw attention to the barracks refurnishing program at the gun show exhibit, and sent publicity materials to the advertising agent to demonstrate the merits of the Fort Davis request. [30]

Little else seemed to matter to the Fort Davis staff as the Friends group generated interest and donations to the barracks restoration project. Doug McChristian authorized Mary Williams in June 1985 to travel to Washington for an extended research trip in the military records of the National Archives. Her task was to collect the materials that park historian Ben Levy had not consulted in the mid-1960s, primarily the documentation on the "First Fort [1854-1861]." The superintendent also contacted the nation's most prominent black publication, Ebony Magazine, that month to submit an article on the Buffalo Soldiers. Revealing the shift from the generic soldier's story to that of African-Americans, McChristian told Charles Sanders of Ebony that "today Fort Davis National Historic Site is a major facet of Park Service efforts to place black history in [its] proper perspective in the interpretation of American history to the visiting public." In July, Bill Gwaltney corresponded with Bernie Casey, former professional football player for the Los Angeles Rams and one of the officers of the Black Screen Actor's Guild. Gwaltney hoped that Casey could interest filmmakers in Hollywood in telling the black soldier's story; a scenario that he also presented to perhaps the most prominent black director and actor of his generation, Sidney Poitier, known for his Oscar-winning role in Lilies of the Field (1963), and his direction and starring role in Buck and the Preacher (1972), a black version of the 1950s television series, Wagon Train. [31]

These efforts at promotion and publicity for the park and its barracks restoration project met with mixed success in the summer and fall of 1985. Neither Casey nor Poitier demonstrated interest in the queries of McChristian and Gwaltney. In addition, Ebony Magazine shocked Gwaltney with their "quite noncommittal and terminal response" to the request for an article about Fort Davis. The park technician felt betrayed somehow by the publication, stating in November that "as a black growing up in Washington, D.C., I enjoyed your magazine not just as a journal of progress in black equality and self awareness, but as an historical record as well." Gwaltney referred to himself as "a black Park Ranger" who believed that "it is critical that the black publishing community (in which your publication plays a major role) open lines of communication with those areas of the National Park Service that deal with black American history." Ebony could highlight "an important aspect of American history that has been ignored for many years by race-conscious writers, historians, and movie producers." The Fort Davis story could also correct the assumption "by the press in general, that the ranks of the Park Service and other 'non-traditional' organizations do not contain black individuals." "From entrance station duty to backcountry patrol," said Gwaltney, "and from search and rescue missions to managing National Park Service areas, black park service professionals are involved with the history of the past, the protection of the resources of today and the future of the National Parks." He hoped that Sanders and his magazine would rethink their decision to reject a Fort Davis narrative so that the nation could read of "the proud military tradition of the Buffalo Soldiers," whose "voices are now stilled but their story deserves to be told." [32]

While the rebuff from a national black magazine may have rankled Gwaltney, an incident involving the famed novelist James A. Michener and the black park ranger nearly proved more disastrous for Fort Davis. Michener, known for his massive works on such topics as Space, Hawaii, and Centennial (the latter a historical treatment of Colorado), had agreed to write a novel entitled, Texas, as part of that state's 1986 sesquicentennial. In his inimitable style, the author wished to see as much of the Lone Star state as possible during his research phase. One place that he wished to visit was the Davis Mountains and their NPS park. He accepted the offer of Clayton Williams, a Davis Mountains rancher, cable company owner, and later candidate for governor of Texas (1990), to ride in Williams' helicopter around the Trans-Pecos region. When the party reached Fort Davis, Williams decided to have his pilot land in the parking lot of the federal facility; a violation of codes and of the safety of the visitors. Bill Gwaltney, as the ranger on duty that afternoon, came out to the helicopter, informed a rather irate Williams that he could not permit them to land on park property, and watched as Michener et al., lifted off for their return to Williams' ranch. [33]

The Fort Davis staff thought no more of the Michener incident until October 1985, when Random House publishers released the novel in time for the kickoff of the 150th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo. Doug McChristian and his employees were thus shocked to open the book and read in its introduction: "I also had the honor of being thrown out of Fort Davis, a U.S. National Park and perhaps the best of the restored of the Texas forts. Alas, I never saw it." The superintendent considered it "regrettable that such a remark has to mar an otherwise fine work, especially since you made no attempt to describe the circumstances." McChristian then reiterated the incident report filed by Ranger Gwaltney, which clearly articulated NPS policy on unauthorized flight landings on park property. "As an author and historian," said the superintendent, "you can well-imagine how disruptive a low-flying aircraft is to a park visitor on the ground who is trying to immerse himself in the 19th century." In addition, "there is always the potential for malfunction or pilot error." "Damage or destruction of any historic building," McChristian suggested, "would be an irretrievable loss." The superintendent also took exception to "one of your party's uncomplimentary remarks about the Federal Government." Ranger Gwaltney' s offer to drive Michener from an off-site location to the park was rejected, leading McChristian to conclude: "We feel that your claim that you were 'thrown out' of Fort Davis. . . is an exaggeration that is misleading to anyone unfamiliar with the circumstances." He realized that "there is little that might be done at this time to remedy the situation," but hoped that Michener would return so that "it will be our pleasure to provide you with a 'cook's tour' of the Site." [34]

The irony of Michener's pique at Fort Davis was that the "Texas Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History" had wanted to include information on the park in the Lone Star birthday celebration. Doug McChristian wrote to the association's president, Melvin Wade, to solicit his support for the barracks restoration project, especially its fundraising campaign for the furnishings. One feature of that campaign was an idea developed by Bill Gwaltney to produce and sell "a Buffalo Soldier Commemorative Revolver." The superintendent believed that, "to our knowledge this is the first such commemorative to honor the black American soldier." Gwaltney had convinced two magazines that appealed to weapons enthusiasts, Guns and Ammo, and the American Rifleman, to publish articles on the commemorative revolver. Other activities that the park undertook on behalf of the new barracks included acceptance of a $15,000 bust of a Buffalo Soldier by sculptor Eddie Dixon of Lubbock, and receipt of the traveling exhibit "Ebony Odyssey." Put together by the Fort Bliss Museum of El Paso, the exhibit received what McChristian called "many favorable comments," and "served as a striking and dramatic focal point for visitors as they enter the museum and park visitor center." Word of the project had reached as far east as New York City, where Robyn Alexander, a teacher at the "General Daniel 'Chappie' James Jr. School," solicited materials on the Buffalo Soldiers. John M. Sutton, acting superintendent of Fort Davis, sent Ms. Alexander's students copies of articles written for Black History month, as well as a bibliography that the park staff used to prepare its interpretation of the black experience. [35]

For all these activities, park ranger Bill Gwaltney received much praise from his colleagues at Fort Davis, and from his peers in the park service. In May 1985, McChristian nominated Gwaltney for the "Fourth Annual Freeman Tilden Award for Outstanding Contribution to Interpretation." This competition was named for the "father" of park service interpretative programs, who worked in the pre-World War II era. The superintendent, himself an expert in matters of living history, described Gwaltney as "an excellent interpreter," with "a natural ability to communicate effectively with his audience, to alter his presentation to the audience's interest level, and to stimulate conversation with visitors which leads to further theme discussion." Then in December, supervisory ranger John Sutton recommended Gwaltney for the "Southwest Region Special Events Team." This award provided its participants with "additional experience in law enforcement and visitor protection." Gwaltney had "a full law enforcement commission, firefighter 'red card,' current standard first aid and CPR certification," along with "automatic weapons training from Quantico Marine Base," and certification from the National Rifle Association (NRA) as an expert in "rifle, pistol and shotgun." He had taught courses at nearby Sul Ross State University in weapons use, and "in tae-kwon-do Korean martial arts." Gwaltney for his part informed G. Ray Arnett, executive vice-president of the NRA, of his own support of the organization's goals and objectives. "You are no doubt well aware," the ranger told Arnett, "of both the budget cuts affecting the National Park System and the feeling on the part of anti-gunners that the role of firearms in building our country should be minimized or ignored completely." He then used his Freeman Tilden nomination to campaign for the barracks restoration project, specifically the 10th Cavalry revolver sale. "These black soldiers," said Gwaltney, "many of them combat veterans, showed time and again, courage, patriotism and sacrifice in the execution of their duties." [36]

The intense focus upon the accomplishments of black soldiers, and the role of Fort Davis' first black ranger therein, meant that the park had an opportunity to become a national center for the promotion of frontier black history. While this would have required a staff and budget far beyond the scope of the NPS, Bill Gwaltney's endeavors provided a window on the possibilities of the park service as a player in the national dialogue about race and ethnicity. One example of that came in the spring of 1985, when Superintendent McChristian wrote to the mayor of Thomasville, Georgia, M. Tom Faircloth, to support that community's efforts to convince the U.S. Postal Service to print a commemorative stamp of Henry 0. Flipper. Thomasville was Flipper's hometown, and there the former Fort Davis officer was buried after his death in 1940. McChristian described his park as having the "dubious distinction of being the scene of his 1881 court-martial." McChristian and Mary Williams prepared a lengthy biographical sketch for the Thomasville mayor, as well as for Ray 0. MacColl, assistant superintendent of schools for Pelham, Georgia. Speaking in a forthright manner about Flipper and race not seen at Fort Davis since the days of Frank Smith, McChristian characterized the posthumously exonerated black lieutenant as someone who "accomplished what many dared not dream of." Flipper's attendance at West Point rendered him "the first of his race to pursue careers in fields previously closed to blacks." The engineering graduate, despite his legal problems, in the words of McChristian, "was undoubtedly a pioneer for equal rights in a time when the phrase was uncommon to most Americans." Thus it was no surprise in the summer of 1985 that Fort Davis, along with Sul Ross State University, sponsored a one-act play, "Held in Trust," based upon the life of Henry Flipper. An El Paso actor, Bob Snead, a former Army aviator, portrayed Flipper to audiences in his hometown and around the Southwest, and appeared in Alpine as part of Fort Davis' second annual barracks restoration festival. [37]

Fort Davis could not focus solely on a high level of historical promotion, as the park had standing obligations of maintenance and service, as well as responding to research inquiries about a wide range of historical phenomena. Mary Williams continued to develop her programs on women and the frontier military, with the NPS sponsoring Women's History Week in early March. While not as high in profile as Black History Month, women's stories had finally gained some recognition within the male-dominated park service. Superintendent McChristian asked the "Federal Women's Coordinator" for the Southwest Region to indicate "how many other areas . . . recognized Women's History Week." Another indicator of changes in gender roles in the NPS was the invitation extended in April to Sandra Myres, professor of history at the University of Texas at Arlington, to speak to the Indian Wars' training program to be held at Fort Davis. Bob Utley was also asked to appear in the Memorial Day weekend activity, addressing the topic: "Popular attitudes towards western expansion." Myres, a specialist in the history of the Spanish Southwest who had moved in the early 1980s into the story of women in the region, was asked to speak on "women's attitudes towards life at a frontier military post." John Sutton suggested that Myres explore "such subthemes as women's expectations of frontier life during the last half of the 19th century, women's attitudes towards raising a family at a frontier military post, and the differences and similarities of the frontier army family in relation with the remainder of 19th century American society." [38]

Gender and service to the park also surfaced in the area of volunteerism; a dimension of interpretation that would become all the more critical as the barracks restoration project moved to closure. A group of local women, including Fort Davis' Mary Williams, organized the "Davis Mountains Quilters' Guild" in 1985 to make quilts for the barracks. Original planning for the refurnishing of the facility identified the need for seven quilts, and research revealed that "the use of quilts appears to be characteristic to black enlisted men." The quilters donated coverings to be auctioned as part of the refurnishing fund, which by early 1986 had reached $15,000 (or half of the target of $30,000). Ranger Williams, the mother of an adolescent daughter, also realized that the Girl Scouts could provide services as volunteers that equalled those of the Boy Scouts. The Department of the Interior had entered into a "Memorandum of Understanding [MOU]" with the Boy Scouts, which Williams believed should be extended to young girls so that the "work the girl scouts are doing in the parks will received official recognition." Williams saw their contribution as essential to the success of a park like Fort Davis, which had a small volunteer base and needed all the help that it could command. She went so far in the fall of 1986 to inform the Southwest Region's VIP coordinator that the program needed significant reforms. Her own successful VIP program included a newsletter, but would benefit from more formal gestures of recognition: an appreciation luncheon, awards, on-site housing or camping facilities, and extended training and mentoring. "From personal observation," said Williams, "it is better not to have a volunteer program than to have a poor one." She wondered if all parks in the region shared Fort Davis' commitment to the support of volunteers, and she reminded her superiors in Santa Fe: "To help parks realize successful volunteer programs, the lines of communications between parks, regions, and Washington need to be expanded." [39]

The role of the Friends' group in expanding the interpretive programs of Fort Davis also concerned Superintendent McChristian in the winter and spring of 1986, as the barracks awaited the last of their furnishings. He faced continued reductions in funding from the NPS, but "with the end of the barracks restoration in sight, the [Friends'] group is enthusiastic about pursuing future projects." This eagerness, and proven ability at fundraising, confronted the superintendent with an historical dilemma: the lack of a master plan to guide the staff and Friends. "Management needs a document," said McChristian, "either outlining development plans, or one clearly defining the logic for not continuing restoration." Another feature in need of clarification was "the proposed switch of the museum and administrative areas at park headquarters." What McChristian could discuss with the Friends was a plan to restore and refurnish the post hospital. The Friends, McChristian remembered eight years after leaving Fort Davis for the second time, had first expressed interest in the rehabilitation of the chapel. "Fort Davis is a very religious area," said McChristian, where the community's many uses of the facility rendered the chapel "a social and religious center." In shifting their attention to the hospital, the superintendent told the Southwest Region that the building "represents perhaps the best extant example of a frontier U.S. army hospital in the Southwestern United States." Despite the modest efforts to provide access to the hospital, "the building evokes a great deal of visitor interest and curiosity about medical facilities and practices of the late 19th century." McChristian drafted a plan that received little support to spend $450,000 to prepare the facility for visitation of some 75,000 per year. "Since virtually everyone can relate to illness and contemporary medical science," said the superintendent, the park could reach visitors in new ways by explaining such topics as "medical personnel and their duties, routine hospital operations, 19th century diseases and treatments, the hospital's role as an entity of the fort, relations with the civilian community, and the contributions of frontier army surgeons to medical and natural science. [40]

The seriousness of the interpretive program needs at Fort Davis had their more wistful counterpart in the 1986 sesquicentennial of Texas. Ironically, the major push to highlight the distinctiveness of the Lone Star state ran into trouble just as the year began. In January 1986, Texas' central economic feature, oil production, collapsed in value as the consortium known as the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) reduced prices in the space of 60 days from nearly $30 per barrel to less than ten dollars. This downward spiral in earnings and tax revenue caught Texas and the nation by surprise, with the former suffering both economic and psychological trauma for years. The lack of funds, as well as state pride, rendered the ambitions of the sesquicentennial moot, and Fort Davis thus had few requests from Texas officials to conduct joint programs 150 years after the fall of the Alamo. In fact, the only venues of note that engaged the staffs time were the plans of Bob Reinhadt, whom Superintendent McChristian described as the only member of the local sesquicentennial committee, to "create a self-guided auto tour of the old El Paso stage route through Fort Davis," and the inquiry of William Sandidge of San Antonio to retrace the journey of the 1850s camel trains of the U.S. Army. The superintendent conceded that this could "undoubtedly rank among the most unusual during the Sesquicentennial." Unfortunately, Fort Davis believed that "keeping live animals here in permanent exhibit would be neither economically feasible nor necessary from an interpretive standpoint." Sandidge persisted with his plans to raise some $30,000 to send the camels through the Davis Mountains, but Fort Davis could not agree to provide monies to pay for one animal on the route. [41]

In May 1986, Doug McChristian decided to accept reassignment to Hubbell Trading Post in northeastern Arizona as superintendent. He recounted for the Alpine Avalanche the changes that the Texas park had undergone since his return in 1980. McChristian was most proud of the formation of the Friends group, which triggered more interest in the upkeep of the physical plant of Fort Davis. The park also had prepared its first vegetation plan, a historic scene management plan, and had begun the process to acquire a general management plan. An initial archeological survey resulted in an historic base map consisting of 223 identified historic structures, including some 70 sites "previously unknown or not located." The Southwest Region sent in McChristian's place Steve Miller, most recently the superintendent of Arizona's Navajo National Monument. The New York state native had spent five years at the isolated park on the Navajo reservation, and the previous five and one-half years at western New Mexico's El Morro National Monument. Miller described himself to the Alpine Avalanche as a "Civil War buff," and indicated that he, his wife Char, and their two daughters looked forward to the transfer to the west Texas mountains. [42]