2006 Hall of Fame Inductee
Ken Pollard

2006 Hall of Fame Inductee

Ken Pollard

About 12 years ago, Ken Pollard realized a way to reach minority youth and families across Texas. The plan included a volunteer group in Abilene Texas, the "Soldiers in Blue Committee" and outdoor educational programs about the Buffalo Soldiers, Vaqueros, Frontier Women, Native American Indians and other cultural groups in Texas. The Soldiers in Blue Committee assisted in the development of a statewide educational program for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that emphasizes our shared Texas Heritage.

Capt. Ken Pollard is the Commanding Officer and Chaplain for the Texas Buffalo Soldiers Regiment. The Regiment is composed of a statewide network of Buffalo Soldiers, Black Cowboys, Mexican Cowboys, European Cowboys, American Indians, Frontier Women and other cultural groups from across Texas. Members of the Regiment demonstrate the shared heritage of Texas through living history programs, wagon train & trail rides, youth and family campouts and other venues. Youth and families have the opportunity to participate through hands-on outdoors educational and recreational activities.

The Texas Buffalo Soldiers Regiment has conducted programs to more than 3,000,000 youth and families across Texas over the past 15 years. Pollard has been involved in videos, movies and documentaries including the Discovery Channel, TNT-The Rough Riders, Texas Education Agency Network, Fox Sports Southwest and numerous television and radio shows.

The Texas Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Trail Project is the umbrella program for the Community Services Education & Outreach Program and is designed to bring education, tourism and other social-economic opportunities to minority communities. This project was developed by Ken Pollard - Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Dr. A.C. Jackson & Gloria Jackson – Abilene Heritage Committee, James and Robbyne Fuller of Midland and Eric Strong of Lubbock. The goal of the Heritage Trail Project is to involve Texas communities in the preservation of the history of the minority citizens in Texas.

During the 76^th Legislative Session Dr. A. C. Jackson, Mr. Pollard and other members of the Texas Buffalo Soldiers was honored on the floors of the Senate by the Honorable Senator Royce West and the House of Representatives by the Honorable State Representative Dr. Bob Hunter. They were recognized for the development of the Texas Buffalo Soldiers Programming administered by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and their testimony and support assisted the members of the 76^th Legislative session with the passage of Senate Bill 1457, designating the month of July “Texas’ Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month”.

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