Tom Bass - Jefferson City, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 34.744 W 092° 10.375
15S E 572041 N 4270391
From slavery to world renown horse trainer. One of many in the Hall of Missourians on the third floor of the state capitol.
Waymark Code: WM1BQFX
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 03/21/2025
Views: 0
County of statue: Cole County
Location of statue: 201 W. Capitol Ave., third floor, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City
Artist: William J. Williams
Bust Statue in Bronze
Presented by: Speaker Steve Gaw from Speaker's Annual Golf Classic Donations
This bronze statue is inside the state capitol building, you must go through security check...no weapons, etc....
The Hall of Fame for Missourians is on the third floor, and all along the wall and in the alcoves, etc.
Plaque Text:
TOM BASS
1859 - 1934
[horse and rider image]
Born in Boone County. Lived most of his life
in Mexico, Missouri.
Began life as a slave, but transcended the racial
prejudices of the 1800's and early 1900's to
become on of the most skilled and respected
horseman in history, training training horses for an
American president and some of the country's
most famous celebrities. Helped organize
Kansas City's American Royal Horse Show.
"Tom Bass (1859-1934)
Inducted - Monday, April 12, 1999
Sculptor: William J. Williams
Speaker: Steve Gaw
"Tom Bass helped break the color barrier at the turn of this century while revolutionizing the saddle horse profession. Bass was known for his gentle and humane training methods and was said to have never raised a whip or a club and rarely his voice to his horses. He invented a special bit that is less intrusive and painful to a horse's mouth, but he never patented it because he wanted to "give it to the horses of the world; something to make their way in life a little easier." The Tom Bass Bit is still in production today.
"Bass is regarded as one of the world's greatest saddle horse trainers. Born into slavery in Boone County, he lived most of his life in Mexico, Missouri where he trained horses for a number of notable individuals including Theodore Roosevelt and Buffalo Bill Cody. In addition, he rode in the inaugural parades of Presidents Grover Cleveland and Calvin Coolidge and was invited to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebration in England. Because his talent as a horseman was greatly admired, Bass was allowed to show in the same ring with white trainers when America was still a very segregated place in the decades following the Civil War." ~ Hall of Famous Missourians