  
The story of a modern day "Buffalo Soldier"...
A visit to Eagle dacner Gallery ~ League City, Texas will introduce you to the amazing paper sculptures of the Eckman family of South Dakota. Eckman paper sculptures are hard to believe... they are without a doubt "the" finest paper sculptures available today. Currently on display at the gallery you'll find this beautiful sculpture of a modern day buffalo soldier who happened to live in the Houston area, Clear Lake to be specific. This particular work is titled "First Sgt. Grover Hankins, Buffalo Soldier".
Grover Hankins passed away in 2009 after a valiant battle against mesothelioma leaving a legacy of bravery, honesty and genuine love. For more information about why we consider Grover Hankins a "true modern-day Buffalo Soldier" read-on... it's a great story.
"1st Sgt. Grover Hankins - Buffalo Soldier”…
A brief story of a modern-day Buffalo Soldier dedicate to Grover Glenn Hankins Esq. {1941-2009}
This sculpture created by master paper sculpture artists Allen and Patty Eckman of South Dakota is titled “1st Sgt. Grover Hankins, Buffalo Soldier”. It was commissioned by the Hankins family as a tribute to one modern-day buffalo soldier, here’s his story.
Born in Chicago in 1941 Grover Glen Hankins dedicated his life’s work to serving others through the field of law. Grover would often remark that he felt compelled to help others “find their voice” when they battled against corporate misconduct. Grover was a lawyer who specialized in environmental law because from an early age he felt he could not sit on the sidelines and watch corporate America abuse the earth and the people who care for the earth. As a young man studying law Grover witnessed firsthand abuses of the law where the environment and the people suffered… simply for greed, He decided early on in his law studies he would not tolerate this action and would fight it. Grover studied the actions of the early buffalo soldiers and often felt a kin-ship with them. He felt the early buffalo soldier fought for the betterment of all people but especially those who were unrecognized by the “establishment”. Grover was highly successful in his endeavors within the legal field and prospered but he always felt the greater gain was the restoration of balance for people and the earth. He tirelessly lobbied young lawyers {of all nationalities} to seek out the greater good and fight for it. Grover fought valiantly until the very end of his days on earth… he was a true Buffalo Soldier.
Grover and his family commissioned this sculpture as a tribute to both the early Buffalo Soldier and the modern-day Buffalo Soldier… “They can take your car, they can take your house, they can take your money but they can NEVER take your will to fight” – {spoken by Grover in a talk with one of his sons}
Visit Eagle Dancer Gallery or eagledancergallery{dot}com to see this sculpture in person and/or to learn more about the amazing art of Eckman paper sculptures. Custom comissions are available through Eagle Dancer Gallery, Can we create a paper sculpture just for you???
A reproduction Buffalo Soldier guidon for the 10th Cavalry, Company G, West Texas... Created exclusively for our moder-day Buffalo Soldier Grover Hankins, Esq., Houston, Texas.
Custom made and framed for Grover this Buffalo Soldier guidon is exact in detail to the original guidons flown by the brave Buffalo Soldiers of our past. For more information on this reproduction Buffalo Soldier guidon and other reproduction flags / guidons please visit Eagle Dancer Gallery ~ League City.
Posted by: Gregory C. Reynolds
06/23/2010
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