Elmer Kelton Statue Nearing Completion

Rick Smith in the San Angelo Standard-Times article ,"Elmer Kelton statue nearing completion," relays the news: "SAN ANGELO, Texas — A life-size sculpture of the late West Texas author Elmer Kelton is nearing completion at a Lubbock foundry said Raul Ruiz, the San Angelo artist commissioned to create the work. "I just came back from Lubbock last week," Ruiz said. "Right now, I'm at the point where I'm putting on the finishing touches." He said the sculpture, now made of clay, will be cast in bronze. "I think it's looking really good," Ruiz said. "It just takes time." The bronze, which will show the West Texas author casually leaning on a wooden fence, will be placed in the new Tom Green County Library when it opens in 2010. Ruiz said the Kelton family will travel to Lubbock to see the clay sculpture before it is cast into bronze. The project has had several unexpected delays. First, the foundry changed hands after owner Jerry House died in July. Then, Ruiz said he was jolted by Kelton's death in August. "That's been the hardest part of this — Mr. Kelton's passing," Ruiz said. Donations to fund the $85,000 project are being accepted through the San Angelo Area Foundation. http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/dec/22/elmer-kelton-statue-nearing-completion/ For more information information, see http://saafound.org/articles/view/35/elmer-kelton-statue  or call 325- 659-3788."