The City of McAllen and the McAllen Fire Department plan to unveil a firefighter statue in honor of all firefighters, past and present, Friday September 3, 2010, at 9:00 am, at McAllen Central Fire Station, 201 N. 21st.
The statue, created by local sculptor Douglas Clark, is the likeness of a current McAllen fireman, kneeling with two small children. It will rest on a concrete base, near the entrance to the McAllen Fire Department Administration Building and Central Fire Station.
Elected officials from the City of McAllen, Fire Chief Rogelio “Roy” Rubio, sculptor Douglas Clark and the statue model are all expected to be present at the unveiling ceremony.
Additional Information on Firefighter Statue:
- Weighs 1,000 pounds
- Made of bronze, copper, silica and antimony
- Took 4 months to make (two months for original clay figure and two months to cast final product)
- Created by Douglas Clark with assistance from Jesus Cruz, Don White and McAllen firefighters
- Has a special resin coating to prevent age from changing the color
- All casting done at the new UTPA art foundry in Edinburg
- UTPA art students were allowed to witness the entire process