Maj. Gen. Warner Ross Honors Legacy of First Sergeant Howard Black at Bolivar City Council Meeting
The Bolivar City Council held it monthly meeting on May 11, 2026. The meeting opened with prayer led by State Representative Johnny Shaw before council members approved minutes from the April meeting. Council members Mike Brown and Caroline Miller were absent.
The highlight of the meeting focused on a special presentation by Major General Warner Ross, who addressed the council and community members gathered to recognize the legacy of First Sergeant Howard Vincent Black Sr. and Bolivar’s Howard Vincent Black Armory building, which was named in his honor. The armory building was purchased by the City of Bolivar last year and is currently being used by Bolivar Parks and Recreation.
Ross described the armory as more than “brick and mortar,” calling it a symbol of service and sacrifice for generations of local soldiers and families. He presented the city with a framed architectural rendering of the armory and historical display documenting units stationed at the armory and deployments connected to the facility, including missions like Iraqi Freedom, Spartan Shield, Enduring Freedom, Hurricane Katrina, COVID response and securing Washington D.C.
The Tennessee National Guard also presented a smaller replica to the Bolivar Library for public display.
Major General Warner Ross quoted the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, as saying, “The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.” He then continued, “The foundation of that armory was concrete and steel, but it’s built on the dedication of the community citizens, those people that stepped forward and said, ‘Hey, I think I want to do this’ and then when the nation called or the state called or the community called, they were there.”
Ross continued, ” So, we absolutely just want other people to know that none of us that have ever been in that uniform will ever drive by that building and not feel a special place in our heart for it.”
Ross spent much of the presentation honoring the late First Sgt. Howard Vincent Black Sr., for whom the armory was named in 1991. Black served as an aerial gunner during World War II, flying more than 30 combat missions in Europe before returning home and helping organize the first Tennessee Army National Guard unit in Bolivar and then enlisting with that same unit in 1947.
Members of Black’s family were presented with personal military artifacts that had been displayed at the armory for years, including silk escape maps used by aviators during World War II.
Three senior enlisted leaders from the Tennessee National Guard joined Ross in presenting the family with the “Keeper of the Colors” recognition, honoring Black’s decades of leadership and influence on Tennessee soldiers.
Ross also posthumously awarded Black the Tennessee Adjutant General’s Distinguished Patriot Medal for his military service and contributions to the Tennessee National Guard.
In a surprise recognition, Ross presented retired Col. Charles “Chip” Cary with the Tennessee National Guard Distinguished Service Medal for more than 25 years of service. Ross praised Cary for his military leadership and decades of public service to Hardeman County and Bolivar.
Following the military presentations, Representative Johnny Shaw and Senator Page Walley announced that legislation extending Bolivar’s downtown redevelopment designation for an additional 10 years had passed in Nashville.
Walley said the extension could help generate millions in additional redevelopment opportunities and eventually position Bolivar to seek designation as a premier tourist resort community, opening additional funding opportunities.
Senator Walley also highlighted the creation of the Representative Johnny Shaw Tennessee Agriculture Education and Investment Initiative, a statewide agricultural education program named in Shaw’s honor.
Patrick Gant of the U.S. Small Business Administration addressed the council regarding disaster assistance available to residents and businesses affected by January’s severe winter storms. Gant said low-interest SBA disaster loans are available for homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits in Hardeman County following the federal disaster declaration connected to Winter Storm Fern.
The council later approved an asphalt paving bid, updates to lease agreements between the city and the Hardeman County School System involving the Optimist baseball field property, resolutions tied to funding for the city’s planned armory renovation project and financing related to the purchase of a new fire department pumper truck.
The council also approved the reappointment of Todd Lowe to the Bolivar Energy Authority board before adjourning the meeting.
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