Paxton Williams, an actor impersonating George Washington Carver, poses with a sculpture of Carver unveiled in front of Iowa State University's Seed Science Center on Tuesday. Carver was a groundbreaking researcher in botany, and ISU's first black faculty member.
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As Manjit Misra, director of ISU's Seed Science Center, told the crowd at the center that George Washington Carver was his "hero", a somehow familiar gray-haired black man in a worn jacket, bow tie and cap entered the back of the room.
Paxton Williams, an ISU alumnus who impersonates Carver, walked to the front to say a few words to the 21st century agronomists, researchers and seed industry representatives assembled there.
Carver modestly attributed his early accomplishments in plant and seed research as a matter of contribution to the human condition.
"It is simply service that measures success," Carver said.
At the end of his comments, Carver told the crowd, "I hear you have me in bronze. I would like to see me."
The installation of the sculpture is the final step in a $2 million, 5,000-square-foot expansion of the Seed Science Center, which will provide additional room for the center and the Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products.
The sculpture is life-sized and was created from a maquette sculpted by Christian Petersen in 1949. Petersen was ISU's artist in residence from 1934 to '55. Funding for the sculpture was provided by the Committee for Agricultural Development.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with the annual convention of the Iowa Seed Association, in Ames Tuesday and today.
Laura Millsaps can be reached at (515)-663-6918 or lmillsaps@amestrib.com.
