Posted Apr 01, 2010 @ 09:31 PM
PEORIA — A Peoria native's larger-than-life accomplishments are now immortalized.
An 11-foot-tall sculpture of the late Gen. Wayne A. Downing depicted in combat uniform and carrying a rifle was placed this week at the entrance to the Peoria airport, which carries his name.
"It's a beautiful job - he's captured the essence of the man," said Mike Landwirth, a member of the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria and chairman of a citizens' committee that oversaw placement of the sculpture, referring to sculptor Paul Moore.
The bronze likeness, a gift from Texas billionaire and former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot, sits atop a 16-ton block of black granite that is etched with several of Downing's many accomplishments and awards. The project was about two years in the making.
Downing, a retired four-star general, was the former commander of the nation's Special Forces - considered the father of the modern-day Rangers - and was picked by President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to be the point man for counterterrorism efforts. Downing died July 18, 2007, at age 67 of complications from bacterial meningitis after his immune system was weakened by cancer.
Greater Peoria Regional Airport was renamed in 2008 to Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport to honor him.
Perot, who knew Downing for some 30 years, told the Journal Star in 2008 that he commissioned the sculpture to honor his friend.
"I could tell you Wayne Downing stories forever," Perot said then. "He was a wonderful man, a great general, great leader. . . . I want to make sure that Wayne is properly honored in his own hometown. Anything I can do to help, I ought to do. And so I think my little bit will be to get that big monument in his honor."
Airport officials had discussed placing the statue inside the new terminal building now under construction but settled on its current "point" position because it is so massive.
One of the etchings on the granite base reads, "Rangers lead the way."
Landwirth said the citizens' committee he sits on is discussing plans to build a small park surrounding the statue along with a few parking places and benches so that visitors can get a closer view of the artwork and learn about Downing's accomplishments.
"He was an outstanding individual. . . . He's considered a legend," Landwirth said.
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