The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-02-08

A Tribute TO the Late Dennis Pol
lard, Who Departed this Life Jan.
10th mt His Home Near Wolfe
City, Texas.
1t has been said that death loveth
a shining mark. In the death of this
great man, Dennis Pollard, it can
truly and justly be said that Fan
min County and the race at large
have lost one of their most noble
men. One whose place will be hard
to fill if it ever can be filled. We
must again repeat that a great char
acter has fallen for the noble quail
tiles Of the heart and mind made
him great, yes great in heart, soul
and mind. These great qualities
were ever gloriously manifested in
manifold ways in the varied activi
ties of his most useful life.
1t. has been said that a prophet
hath little honor in his own coun-
try but this noble man proved a
great exception to this saying. His
undoubted integrity, his lofty and
courageous spirit for high ideals and
his many noble deeds performed for
the welfare of his community, his
country and the race at large COM
manded for him the respect Of the
whole people regardless of race. His
great unselfish services rendered for
the general good and his fellowmen
caused both white and colored, old
and young in his peighborhOod and
surrounding country to give to him
that cordial greeting, respect, and
consideration to which he was so
richly entitled and richly deserved
Dennis Pollard, so to speak was a
great beacon light to his race or
as in the way of illustrating a great
truth could be termed as a city up
on a great hill and by these meta
phors, light and city, the wonderful
significance of a noble thought and
grand truth can be obviously SEEN
BY honesty, perseverance, industry,
economy, great self sacrifice and
judicous management, he had success
fully surmounted the many oppo-
sitions, difficulties, pejudices and pet
ty jealousness by which he was sur
rounded in this life and made most
creditable and successful landing up
on the topmost rounds in the great
ladder of success, prosperity and
progress and thus demonstrating the
possibility and capability of the Ne
gro to achieve and accomplish great
and noble things in his life. His
moral excellence and great Christian
integrity served also a great light
or example that humanity might be
led to high grounds of Christian
usefulness and be inspired to do
noble things for God and humanity.
Dennis, as he was so Familiarity call
ed by his many friends did not live
for himself alone while he loved and
amply provided for his dear family
and loved ones. He was, posSe ssed
by nature with big generous, low
ing and sympathetic heart and a
very amiable disposition. He was at
all times ready and willing to extend
a. helping hand to those in need and
the unfortunate in general. Many
homes and scores of men and women,
widows and orphans, the aged and
decrepit and those in distress and
poverty have so often received help
and relief from their condition and
want by this good man ard made to
go on their way rejoicing. His cOun-
sci and wholesome advice was glad
ly given when sought. There was no
enterprise for the public good but
what generously and willingly receiv-
cd his heartily aid and support,
There was no need or call of the
churches and institutions Of reli-
gious or educational character but
what he cheerfuliy contributed.
There was no charity that he failed
to extend needed aid, no call of his
country was ever UNDECIDED. His OPP
timism was inspiring. his gracious
ness was ever manifest, beloved,
honored and respected by all. Truly,
truly IN the passing of Dennis Pol
lard, the state. the county and the
race have suffered an irreparable
loss. Yea, the race has lost one of
her best and noblest sons and repre-
sentatives. Not until we shall have
been farther removed from this hour
of sadness and tense grief and the
stern realities of life shall be
thrust before us as we make our
onward march through life's checked
scenes and dreary voyage and then
o. then. will we be clearly able to
truly comprehend the great loss of
this noble man to his country, his
family ard the race. 1t was my
great pleasure to have been well
acquainted with the above character
and intimately associated with him
for a number of years in fact, ! have
known him practically all of my
life. A number of years ago /
taught school in his community for
several terms and lived in his home,
which gave me 2 splendid opportuni-
ty tn know something abut this great
man. I considered him one Of ma
lures noblemcn. To me he was q
most dear and intimate friend and
brother. He was one Of the very
few friends had in life that
could coudole and trust. His friend
ship. his counsel. his advice to me
have always proved wholesome. II