Project Overview

In 1866, for the first time, Black men would be permitted to enlist in the peacetime U.S. Army. In that year, Congress authorized six regiments (two of cavalry and four of infantry) consisting of African American enlisted personnel. These men eventually became known as “Buffalo Soldiers,” a nickname bestowed on them by Native Americans. 

In 2021, Sherley L. Spears, then President of the local NAACP branch, envisioned a place of honor for these men that would create a new tourism site in San Angelo.  She formed a team to design, develop, and complete this Memorial.  Fundraising activities resulted in more than $500,000 that constructed and marketed the project.   

The San Angelo City Council approved this location in April 2022, which was established as the San Angelo NAACP Buffalo Soldier Memorial, in honor of past leaders of that organization, which was chartered in 1946.  Local companies designed and constructed the Memorial including Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises that provided electrical contracting, masonry, landscaping, and marketing. 

Having learned more about the service of these men at Fort Concho, Sherley L. Spears believes she was given a vision to create a place of honor for these men. She collaborated with various community leaders, historians and living history advisors to create a team to build a special place of honor.  Spears offered the San Angelo NAACP an opportunity to have naming rights and named it in their honor as the San Angelo NAACP Buffalo Soldier Memorial.  At the time, Ms. Spears was the President of the San Angelo NAACP, having served the branch for four years.

To create the memorial, it was necessary to create a rendering and find a location on which to create the memorial.  Spears worked with a local architect group, KFW Architects, to create a rendering that captured her vision of strength and honor.  The city of San Angelo unanimously voted and approved the location at a public park known as El Paseo de Santa Angela, which is located directly across the street from the Fort Concho Parade ground.  This space was once part of the original fort acreage.

The construction of the memorial involved all local businesses.  As a business owner, it was important to Spears that the funds spent be kept in the San Angelo community as much as possible.  From the first rendering with KFW Architect, to the landscaping of the garden area, there has been a touch by a small, minority/women owned business.

Support from various community partners along the way has helped to make sure that the residents recognize the invaluable history right here in the city.  Future tourism opportunities will come from this first big step and surely over time, other opportunities will follow.

Regular meetings were held at least monthly to assist in the planning for fundraising and development.  Spears served as the visionary and the Project Director to make sure everything was done according to the vision.  This project has brought together unlikely resources who will undoubtedly work on other projects in the future.

The Buffalo Soldier Memorial in the Paseo de Santa Angela Park will finally honor the legacy of those courageous men and give special recognition to many who served at Fort Concho and the four who are buried at Fairmount and Delta Memorial Cemeteries. in San Angelo, Texas. The San Angelo NAACP Buffalo Soldier Memorial establishes a place of honor for the many men and women of the U.S. Army who have not been given their proper recognition in United States history and the United States Army.