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 Terrell County Through Time - Sanderson, TX Posted by:  Raven
N 30° 08.006 W 102° 23.117
13R E 751889 N 3336457
A set of 14 limestone slabs placed upright by a strip park in the desert town of Sanderson, the "Cactus Capital of Texas". Each slab was painted with drawings representing the county's epochs over time.
Waymark Code: WMTCXF
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 11/03/2016
Views: 1
Located in East Gate Park on US Hwy 90 ("Oak Street") in the town of Sanderson, Texas (the seat of Terrell County, also dubbed the "Cactus Capital of Texas"), and dedicated in 2006 during the park's inauguration, this sculpture features a set of 14 large limestone slabs standing upright -- grouped by twos and threes -- lined up in the same direction facing the main highway through town. Each slab was subsequently hand-painted to represent the area's major epochs and Terrell County's recent history. Unfortunately limestone is not the best canvas for oil paints, despite the relatively lack of rain in this area: almost all original drawings have faded over the last 10 years, with only a few slabs still showing some of their original design -- including that of a traditional Native American Chief in buckskin garb on one of the main slabs. That said, the main stone sculpture is still in place today. The works if that of artist Leo Charles Smith, Sr. Per his Christmas Day 2015 obituary: " Leo was born July 28, 1938, to J.M. and Dora Smith in Eastland, Texas. He married his classmate Barbara Carey on August 20, 1955. They moved to Abilene in 1958 where Leo started a commercial art business, "Art by Leo". He did television art for KRBC Channel 9 and KPAR Channel 12 from 1958-1970, and designed the Old Abilene Town. In 1977, they moved to Yoakum, Texas where he was the advertising manager for TexTan Western Leather Company from 1977-1987, he also owned a western store in Yoakum from 1986-2003, and was in the cactus business with his son Leo Jr. in Sanderson, TX.
In 2003, he retired and moved to Sanderson where he was a member of the First Calvary Baptist Church, a member of the Masonic Lodge #662 in Yoakum, and a proud member of Eastland Class of 1957. He received an honorary diploma from Eastland High School on June 22, 1985."
Title: Terrell County Through Time
Artist: Leo Smith Sr.
Media (materials) used: limestone slabs (and oil paint)
Location (specific park, transit center, library, etc.): East Gate Park, Sanderson TX
Date of creation or placement: 2006
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