"Alan Shepard" Commission Portrait Fine Bronze Sculpture by Edd Hayes Bronze Sculptor

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State Capitol,
Austin, Texas...........

Texas sculptor, Edd Hayes has recieved the honor of being named by The Texas Legislature as The Official Texas State Sculptor. The honor was bestowed, based on the scope of the artist's total work along with attention to his portrayal of the history and rich heritage of Texas. Other factors include the artists' involvement with community , civic and charitable organizations. Hayes is best known for his monumental sculpture such as "Wild and Free" at the Houston Astrodome and "The Champ" in front of The Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado.

"Alan Shepard" Commission Portrait Bronze Sculpture by Edd Hayes

"EDD HAYES" Houston Sculptor


Specializes in Monumental Outdoor Sculpture"
Wednesday, February 3, 1999
Texan to sculpt Shepard bronze
By John Basilesco

Eagle-Tribune Writer

DERRY, N.H. -- The same artist whose work graces the front of the Astroarena in Houston will create a life-size bronze statue of astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr.

Edd Hayes, of Humble, Texas, has been selected to design the $50,000 statue to honor Mr. Shepard -- Derry's celebrated hometown hero.

The Alan Shepard Memorial Committee voted 6-0 Monday to select Mr. Hayes over Londonderry's Patricia Verani, the other sculptor considered for the job, said Shepard committee member Roberta Robie.

Mr. Hayes' works include a 150-by-22-foot sculpture of wild horses at the entrance of the Astroarena, an indoor event venue, next to the Houston Astrodome. The sculpture was dedicated in 1991 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The self-taught artist also created ''The Champ,'' a 27-foot tall bronze that stands as the center piece and official logo for the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Mr. Hayes has had more than 40 bronze limited edition sculptures purchased by collectors worldwide. The George Bush Presidential Library features some of his work.

The Shepard committee will now work to negotiate a contract with the artist, who could begin working on a model of the statue as early as next month, Mrs. Robie said.

Once a contract is finalized over the next two weeks, a fund-raiser will be launched to pay for the statue, to be erected at MacGregor Park on East Broadway.

The statue will cost in the ''$50,000 bracket,'' and Mr. Hayes' completion deadline will be Nov. 1, Mrs. Robie said.

Mrs. Robie said the committee opted to go with a traditional bronze statue. Committee members were considering a statue in natural colors, but Mr. Hayes said colors on outside statues do not hold up well.

The statue will be modeled after a famous photograph of Mr. Shepard in his Mercury 7 spacesuit, featuring his boyish grin.

Mr. Shepard died July 21 at age 74. He was the first American in space and one of 12 Americans to walk on the moon.

"Creative versatility"

"Creative versatility"
best describes this internationally collected master of the sculpted form. A specialist in the planning, design, creation and installation of Life-size and Monumental bronze sculpture.

fine bronze sculpture by Edd Hayes

Afoot, Alone and Thirty Below

Life is full of storms. They may be in the form of a great challenge or an unexpected hardship, many times they can be almost more than we can bear, even life-threatening. This is when the human spirit calls on us to fight back, push on, and you will overcome. Never, never, never give up, no matter how great the odds against you, press on, persevere, you can win, you can weather the storm.

Edd Hayes