Help Refurbish the Walter Johnson Birthplace Sign
Donation protected
My grandfather, Richard "Dick" Davis had three main loves in his life; people, baseball, and history.
Following his retirement in 1991, after his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, he always had a project he was working on. Although his portfolio is hard to keep track of it includes the restoration of Big Creek cemetery, building and donating wheel chair ramps for those in-need, repairing Kansas City's Hope Lodge's gazebo, organizing the annual Walter Johnson and George Sweatt Day in Humboldt, and, most notably, the creation of the Walter Johnson Birthplace signage on Highway 169 towards Chanute.
Since his passing in 2010, the years and harsh Kansas weather has given it quite the beating. As it stands today, the wood has rotted, the paint has faded, and the metal has chipped. Our community, my grandfather, and Walter himself all deserve better.
With the donated help of Bryan Lisbona, an award-winning and Kansas-based graphic designer from Kinfolk Creative, a new concept for this landmark has been developed. While details are unofficial and subject to change, this up-to-date contemporary will feature:
- An estimated 8ft vertical, two-sided structure
- A reproduction of a one-of-a-kind painting of Walter created by Graig Kreindler, an award-winning sports artist who has appeared in juried shows and museums across the United States, and has been featured in nationally-distributed books, newspapers, magazines, on the Internet and television
- A freshly blasted, cleaned, and repainted original metal frame
- New graphic panels produced and fixed to the new and existed sign frames, making upkeep easier in the next decade
Now, I’m asking you to help maintain my family’s legacy and keep Humboldt’s history alive. Consider donating to this project during #GivingTuesday or sharing this message to your network. Donations can be made through the GoFundMe link or checks can be sent to Thrive Allen County at 9 South Jefferson Ave Iola, KS 66749, with the memo "Walter Johnson Project."
For more information, please contact me through any of the following social media platforms:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/allie.utley2
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/allieutley2/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/allieutley2
Organizer and beneficiary
Allie Utley
Organizer
Iola, KS
Amy Utley
Beneficiary