31 January 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Donations are skyrocketing. As of 7 p.m., nearly $53,000 has been poured in to help fund a new Jackie Robinson statue. The widow of the man who made the statue, Carol Parsons, said that once the funds are raised, she’ll have the green light to get the building started.
A bronze casting foundry, Art Castings of Colorado, in Loveland, Colorado, has the mold for the Jackie Robinson statue. They will begin work on the new statue as soon as there’s money to pay for the building.
Parsons’ late husband, John Parsons, made the original statue before he passed away. The mold was left behind, creating the ability to recreate Parsons’ work.
Carol Parsons said she was shocked to learn Tuesday morning that her late husband’s work had been destroyed by the thieves.
“I’m just totally flabbergasted, just disgusted, of course, angry, really mad, angry, that somebody would do that. I mean, I understand the point of trying to sell it if that was what they were going to do, melt it down and sell it, but just to tear it up like that, I don’t know, I don’t get it at all,” said Carol Parsons.
She said that since the mold is already constructed, the process of finishing the statue should only take a few months. Once it is completed, she or League 42 Founder Bob Lutz will go pick it up in Colorado.
Parsons said that she looks forward to the day when the new statue can be revealed once again at McAdams Park.
To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.