  E. Eugene Johnson Memorial Foundation is pleased to announce the final installation of PUHA at Historic Quanah City Park. The Foundation has worked over the past two years to make this vision a reality.
Among the areas of interest for Quanah Friends of the Park has been an effort to bring public art to the park, and with the support of the Foundation, this unique piece will hopefully serve as an attractive new feature in the park as well as a place to gather for photos and conversation. For those not familiar with puha, citing writings by Thomas W. Kavanagh, the Comanche Nation Research Report published by the Texas Department of Transportation in 2021 describes puha, or power, as being “the central focus of Comanche religion” and that puha was “derived solely from supernatural sources.” Kavanaugh’s writing published by the Oklahoma Historical Society states that, “Personal power (puha) could be obtained from the spirit world and could be shared with a small group of others.” The foundation worked with Baldwin Metals for the design and construction of the six foot tall letters made from corten steel, which over time, will take on a more weathered appearance. Final assembly and installation was completed by Kerry Pruitt. Along with members of the Foundation’s board of directors and Friends of the Park, several other community volunteers worked hard to make the final installation happen. The Foundation would like to specifically thank Marty Johnson, John Akers, and Steven Sparkman for volunteering for the cause. Friends of the Park and the Foundation welcome all to enjoy the new installation at the park and remind everyone that letters are provided as an art installation and are not playground equipment designed for climbing. Working together with the community, the organizations hope this installation will be one more reason to visit Historic Quanah City Park for generations to come. Friends of the Park is dedicated to the preservation and beautification of as well as promoting activities to improve enjoyment of the Historic Quanah City Park located in Quanah, Texas between Fourth and Fifth Streets and between Good and Louise Streets. Friends of the Park has been established as a committee of the E. Eugene Johnson Memorial Foundation, a Texas nonprofit corporation and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity. Its purpose is to enhance and improve public spaces, including parks, cemeteries, and museums, in Quanah and Hardeman County, Texas, and improve the quality of life of residents through the use and enjoyment of those spaces.  The E. Eugene Johnson Memorial Foundation is honored to announce the completion of Phase 1 of the Grain Bin Gazebo at the Historic Goodlett Cemetery. This unique & meaningful addition to the cemetery would not have been possible without the generosity, hard work & dedication of so many who worked in advance of & during the Thanksgiving holiday. We extend our deepest gratitude to all those involved who helped bring this vision to life to create a beautiful space for reflection & remembrance.
As we celebrate this milestone, we eagerly look forward to Phase 2, slated for spring 2025. Together, we are honoring our loved ones & building a lasting legacy. If you wish to donate, please keep us in mind as we work to finalize this most recent beautification project. To learn more about the project or donate, please visit the Goodlett Cemetery Committee. 
We are excited to announce a unique and heartfelt project: constructing a Grain Bin Gazebo at the Goodlett Cemetery. This beautiful addition will serve as a serene gathering place for families and visitors, providing a space for reflection and connection while honoring the memory of those who rest there. We need your support to bring this vision to life. Regardless of size, every donation will make a significant difference and help us move closer to our goal. The EEJMF is committed to enhancing public spaces across Quanah and Hardeman County, Texas, enriching the quality of life for residents through parks, cemeteries, and museums. The Grain Bin Gazebo at Goodlett Cemetery embodies our mission by transforming a simple idea into a cherished community asset. We would like to invite you to join us in this effort. Your generous donation will go directly towards constructing and completing the gazebo, ensuring it stands as a testament to our community’s spirit and love for those who came before us.
 Quanah Friends of the Park is excited to formally announce the addition of a much asked-for additional amenity to Historic Quanah City Park. From planning to completion, this endeavor has taken more than a year, but the new pickleball court at the park is now ready for play. When Friends of the Park announced the intent of to bring a pickleball court to the park in September 2023, a long long road ahead was planned in order to secure sufficient funding to make the plan a reality. Starting at the 2023 Fall Festival, Friends of the Park was fortunate to receive a number of individual donations to help get the fundraising underway. Then, in October, The 2060s Project made a significant donation for the pickleball court in memory of Catherine Louise Harper. The donation made by The 2060s Project provided the entire funding necessary for the concrete court. When asked about the donation, Ralph Harper, Chairman and President of The 2060s Project said, “Supporting the Quanah pickleball court in memory of my mother, is a great honor. My family hopes the court will be established as a central gathering place in the community.” Following that donation, the concrete for the court was poured in November, and inserts for the nets were added later. Then, thanks to other individual donations, a commercial grade net system and materials for a proper surface to be applied to the court were purchased, and volunteers were sought to begin the surfacing project this summer. For a few weeks in June and July, members of the E. Eugene Johnson Memorial Foundation, Quanah Friends of the Park, and other community volunteers gathered at the park to apply the surface and paint to the court. With the stripes and net being the final steps added by volunteers last weekend, the court is now complete. Friends of the Park would like to thank The 2060s Project, Mr. Harper, every individual who donated their financial resources, and all those who volunteered their time to complete the project. Without their dedicated support, this new addition to the park would not have been possible. Finally, for those in the community who are unsure what pickleball is, how to play, or do not know what equipment may be needed, there are fortunately others in Quanah who are available to assist. Additionally, thanks to another generous donation, loaner equipment will soon be available at the park as well. Please also look for a special announcement about a pickleball event to coincide with the Concert at the Park on October 5, 2024. The 2060s Project's mission is to prepare tomorrow's leaders today. The organization's goal is to eradicate the generational plight associated with young under-served children by the end of the 2060's decade. Friends of the Park is dedicated to the preservation and beautification of as well as promoting activities to improve enjoyment of the Historic Quanah City Park located in Quanah, Texas between Fourth and Fifth Streets and between Good and Louise Streets. Friends of the Park has been established as a committee of the E. Eugene Johnson Memorial Foundation, a Texas nonprofit corporation and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity. We are pleased to present the 2023 Annual Report of the E. Eugene Johnson Memorial Foundation, dedicated to enhancing and improving public spaces in Quanah and Hardeman County, Texas, since 2020. The Foundation has significantly contributed to various local projects in the past year, including the Treemendous Quanah initiative, the Goodlett Cemetery Committee, and the Quanah Friends of the Park. Through these projects, the Foundation has continued to advance its mission of improving the residents' quality of life by using and enjoying these spaces. This report highlights the achievements and impact of the Foundation's efforts in these key areas and provides an overview of our financial performance over the past year.   Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 3:00 pm | Hardeman County Courthouse, Quanah, Texas
On the second Saturday each September Texans celebrate “Quanah Parker Day,” honoring the greatest Comanche Chief. In honor of the day, September 14 this year, photographer/videographer Scot Miller, a frequent contributor of nature videos to CBS Sunday Morning, will present "68 Hours in Quanah: A Photographer's Story,” a presentation combining still photography and videography documenting his experiences attending the inaugural Quanah Parker Medicine Mounds Gathering in Quanah, Texas in June 2021. This was his first visit to Quanah. From Friday afternoon through Monday morning, Miller roamed at will with his cameras, capturing imagery from Quanah, Medicine Mounds Ranch, the ghost town of Medicine Mound, and the surrounding countryside. In this presentation he will talk about his experiences from the perspective of a first-time visitor to Quanah, exploring the area and attending the Quanah Parker Medicine Mounds Gathering. Don Parker and Ardith Parker Leming, great grandson and great granddaughter of legendary Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, will also be in attendance to deliver comments. It promises to be an engaging, informative presentation. Make plans to attend! HOW TO ATTEND: Registration in advance is not required, but seating is limited, so advanced registration is strongly encouraged. This is a free event, but donations of any amount are welcome and appreciated ($10 minimum donation suggested). Donations will go to the Treemendous Quanah Initiative of the E. Eugene Johnson Memorial Foundation including planting trees with the Parker family in memory of Ron Parker, great grandson of Quanah Parker in both Quanah and in Lawton.  When we announced the intent of Quanah Friends of the Park to bring a pickleball court to Historic Quanah City Park in September 2023, we expected we may have a long road ahead of us to secure sufficient funding to make the plan a reality. Starting at the Fall Festival, we were fortunate to receive a number of individual donations to help get the fundraising underway. While we still have a way to go to make it to the finish line, we are very excited to announce we are close to being able to play pickleball at the park this Spring!
If you have been to the park recently, you may have noticed some changes to the area just east of the basketball court. If you have not, there you will find a new concrete slab for the pickleball court. Some finishing touches do remain, such as surfacing and striping the court, but the biggest, and certainly the most expensive, part of the project has been completed with the concrete and the footings for the net having been already completed. We anticipate having the court completed by early springtime. We could not have gotten here without the support of the community. Individual donors have provided support that has enabled the purchase of the net system and the materials necessary for surfacing the court; however, we were able to get to this point thanks to the generosity of a single donation. In October, The 2060s Project made a significant donation for the pickleball court in memory of Catherine Louise Harper. The donation made by The 2060s Project provided the entire funding necessary for the concrete court. When asked about the donation, Ralph Harper, Chairman and President of The 2060s Project said, “Supporting the Quanah pickleball court in memory of my mother, is a great honor. My family hopes the court will be established as a central gathering place in the community.” Friends of the Park would like to thank The 2060s Project, Mr. Harper, and all of the other individuals who contributed to make this plan a reality. While we prepare to complete the remaining steps to finish the court, we welcome anyone in the community who is interested to join us at our next volunteer work day at the park. The 2060s Project's mission is to prepare tomorrow's leaders today. The organization's goal is to eradicate the generational plight associated with young under-served children by the end of the 2060's decade. Friends of the Park is dedicated to the preservation and beautification of as well as promoting activities to improve enjoyment of the Historic Quanah City Park located in Quanah, Texas between Fourth and Fifth Streets and between Good and Louise Streets. Friends of the Park has been established as a committee of the E. Eugene Johnson Memorial Foundation, a Texas nonprofit corporation and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity.
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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERThe E. Eugene Johnson Memorial Foundation is a Texas non-profit corporation and 501(c)(3) tax exempt public charity (EIN 85-1255191).
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