FORT SMITH, Ark. — HBO is getting ready to make a mini-series about Bass Reeves, one of the most notable U.S. Deputy Marshals.
Cody Faber who is a park ranger at The Fort Smith National Historic Site said Reeves escaped slavery and made a name for himself in Fort Smith.
"He's credited with killing at least around a dozen outlaws," Faber said. "And at least 1,000 arrests."
Faber said the story HBO is picking up dates back to 1875 when Reeves became a U.S. Deputy Marshal. T. Baridi Nkokheli, who works at the Fort Smith National Historic Site, has been impersonating Reeves for eight years.
“They are going to do a mini-series of several one-hour episodes,” Nkokheli said. ”It will give them enough time to tell a very detailed story, not only of Bass Reeves but of Judge Parker, the other Marshals, the court of the western district of Arkansas, what Fort Smith’s role was."
Faber said Reeves died in 1910 but his story, spirit and influence on American history are felt to this day. According to Nkokheli, the filming of the miniseries isn't likely to start for another two years.
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