This is the third in sculptor Dave McGary's series depicting the Hunkpapa Sioux Chief Crow King. Crow King commanded the Hunkpapa horsemen at the Battle Of The Little Bighorn in 1876 and was critical to the success of the battle when he and his warriors prevented Custer's troops from reaching the river. This forced them to take their stand upon a ridge. Crow King led several direct charges against Custer's lines in the latter stages of the battle.

In A Matter Of Honor, Crow King is depicted as a young warrior on back of his famous dappled gray horse at the conclusion of the battle. He is brandishing a U.S. Model 1861 light cavalry sabre, a 1870 "trap door" Springfield carbine, and a U.S. Seventh Cavalry Lieutenant Colonel's coat. He is depicted waving these trophies; he had just taken after the battle, over his head as his horse rears up in excitement. It is ironic that Crow King fought so brilliantly for chief Sitting Bull. He had often state his opposition to Sitting Bull prior to the battle.

In the popular work Trophies Of Honor, Dave McGary shows Crow King as a proud mature warrior. The sabre, coat and carbine have been decorated in traditional Sioux fashion with leather straps and beautiful beadwork. Crow King had surrendered to U.S. troops in December 1880 and after his imprisonment at Fort Buford, he was released in 1883 to return to the Sioux reservation along the Missouri River. He became convinced that the white man's way held the only promise of Indian survival. Sitting Bull, on the other had continued to resist and was later killed in the arrest of the Ghost Dancers clan in 1890. Crow King was a strong advocate of education and sent his daughter to a white man's school for an education.

Memories Of Honor depicts Crow King as an older man. In his latter years he still shows the strength, pride, and honor that made him such an important leader of his people. As befitting the tribal leadership earned, he now wears a chief's bonnet that has the extra touch of his trademark crow beaded and mounted on the crown.

This bonnet has a trailer of spiked eagle feathers that trails down his back and touches the ground. His necklace is made of pony beads, eagle feathers, and a quilted pendant depicting the four sacred directions. The staff that he carries has fifty-seven eagle feathers and a scalp lock on the top. The eagle was revered as a symbol of leadership and only those considered brave and wise were allowed to wear them.

Although it is now faded and worn, he still wears the U.S. Seventh Calvary Lieutenant Colonel's coat he obtained at the Little Big Horn. As a demonstration of its importance to both Crow King and the people, it has been extensively beaded and decorated over the years. He also wears a ceremonial pictorial robe decorated with scenes of important battles in his life and enhanced with a horizontal beaded strip. One of the most important items that he carries for all ceremonies is a wooden carving of his favorite war-horse. The mane and tail of this carving is made from hair taken from his famous dappled gray horse that he rode during the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He carved and painted this talisman himself and he would carry it, strapped on his back, for protection is battle and on all horse raids. A scalp lock and owl feathers now decorates the top ring of the beaded Calvary sword scabbard which was also obtained after the defeat of Custer's troops. The sword and scabbard, a strike-a-lite bag, which carried fire making supplies, a beaded and quilled pipe bag, and a beaded knife sheath, hangs from a beaded belt.

Crow King remained an important leader of his people until his death. He was one of the most respected Hunkpapa chiefs and his bravery in battle was matched by his intelligence. He recognized early that to survive, his people must adopt many of the ways of the whit men. This put him in direct oppostion to another sector of the tribe led by Sitting Bull. He insisted that his people get a good education and was instrumental in the formation of schools on the reservation. It is believed that he died in Fort Yates, North Dakota and was buried in the Catholic Cemetary there.

Masterwork Bronze with Patina and Paint,
Edition of 40, Year Cast 2002