Greyhound statue unveiled in student center
Donated by alumnus Orvall McCleary, the Greyhound statue now stands in the rotunda in the Schwitzer Student Center. The ‘Hound is was named Ace at the Oct. 24 dedication ceremony as part of Homecoming.
By Abby Schwarz | Staff Writer
Alumnus Orvall McCleary (class of 1949), the same man McCleary Chapel is named after, has donated a statue in the form of the UIndy mascot, the Greyhound, to the university.
This new addition lives in what has been dubbed the “rotunda,” the round entrance near The Perk, in Schwitzer Student Center. McCleary, the student government, the university cabinet and all others involved wanted the statue to have its own place and for it to be easily accessible to students. Special lighting may be added to the display at a later date.
Vice President for University Advancement Jim Smith has been working closely with McCleary throughout the project. The idea first came about in June 2008 when McCleary offered to donate the sculpture.
“This would be a great landmark for us,” Smith said.
McCleary has a close relationship with the sculptor, DJ Wilkins, and has commissioned much of his work for other universities. Wilkins is located in Fort Myers, Fl. but is an Indiana native. He is known for such works as “Uncommon Friends”, a set of sculptures featuring Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Samuel Firestone around a campfire at the Centennial Park in Fort Myers.
“We sent him [Wilkins] a few pictures of greyhounds we had around here…He actually went to a greyhound track down near Fort Myers, talked to the breeders [and] did some research,” Smith said. “This thing is going to look fantastic.”
Smith also said that McCleary wants the sculpture to be a landmark that students are proud of and something that becomes part of university tradition.
To add to the traditional feel, the statue was given a name. The name was chosen through a contest set before the students of UIndy.
Students suggested names and members of the Indianapolis Student Government (ISG) narrowed it down from about 40 to five. Names were then submitted to the university cabinet for approval. The top three names: Ace, Grady and Spirit, were posted on the My UIndy Web page for students to vote on.
“It was a fun way to get students involved. [It’s like] leaving your mark on campus. You’re not going to be able to pay for a building, but [you can] help name the statue,” said Elizabeth Semrau, treasurer of ISG.
The name “Ace” was revealed on Oct. 24 at the dedication and unveiling.
McCleary and others involved wanted the statue to have a guardian-type feel, much like the Ben Franklin statue at Franklin College. The idea is that the greyhound becomes a big part of traditions on campus and will be something for students to have their picture taken with on graduation day or to rub for good luck before a test or a big game.
“The purpose of it, really, is like a spirit…We’re trying to incorporate everyone on campus,” Semrau said. She said she hopes this new addition will not just appeal to athletes, but to the student body as a whole.
The statue is six feet long and sits at 28 inches (two feet, four inches) high, which is about twice life size. It is mounted on a granite pedestal from Tipton, Ind. that stands about 39 inches (three feet, three inches) high. Finished, it weighs between 250 and 300 pounds. It is made from water-based clay modeled on a welded copper armature and has a cold-cast pewter mold.
Smith said he has high hopes for the future of the new greyhound.
“I do think that we probably, over time, will appreciate this gift from Mr. McCleary more and more…and we do hope traditions grow up around it,” Smith said.
