Sep 22, 2007 9:29 am US/Eastern
William Donald Schaefer May Get A Statue
by Suzanne Collins
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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William Donald Schaefer may get a statue in his honor.
WJZ
There's a plan to commission a sculpture of former mayor and governor William Donald Schaefer and to locate it at Harborplace.
Suzanne Collins explains it's the idea of a well-known Baltimore businessman.
Baltimore has a Christopher Columbus sculpture and a likeness of jazz star Billie Holliday. It also has a male/female figure in front of Penn Station. Now the city may soon have a new sculpture of well-known Maryland politician William Donald Schaefer. The owner of First Mariner Bank and the Baltimore Blast plans to underwrite the project.
"I believe he's an icon in the city, a legend. He's the person responsible for the resurgence of Baltimore," said Ed Hale.
Hale suggested the idea to the former governor and mayor about four months ago. Friday, Schaefer spoke to
Eyewitness News about the concept by phone on his way to Ocean City.
"You know, it really is a great honor and he's a nice man, but I can't figure out why he's gonna do that. He's got so many places he could put, he could make a nice statue of himself," Schaefer said.
He said he's a bit modest about his accomplishments and wonders whether his image deserves to be on public display. He says he hopes he doesn't end up looking like a ghost.
Hale teased he might look like Ronald McDonald.
Hale has selected nationally known Baltimore sculptor Rodney Carroll. He explains the size and scope of the project.
"It'll be a bronze statue, approximately 10-foot pedestal, 9-foot William Donald Schaefer gesturing toward the city and holding some plans."
Hale says the perfect place for the Schaefer sculpture is at Harborplace between the two pavilions, but he has to get city approval first.
Mayor Sheila Dixon says she's excited about it and will support this honor to a great Baltimorean in any way possible.
Hale says he will fund the initial expenses of planning the Schaefer sculpture and then once he has a cost, he will raise funds from Schaefer supporters.
Schaefer teased that his detractors might use the sculpture as a target for tomatoes.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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