A bust of Nile Kinnick, the University of Iowa’s only Heisman Trophy winner and namesake of the UI’s football stadium, will be on display in the trophy case at the UI booth at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines from Thursday, Aug. 9, through Saturday, Aug. 18.
In addition, Hawkeye fans and fair-goers will have a chance to meet and reminisce with flesh and blood versions of former Hawk stars. Among the "Hawkeye Heroes" appearing at the UI exhibit in the Varied Industries Building are Dan Gable (Hawkeye wrestling coach, 1976-1998) and former UI football and track standout Tim Dwight (football 1994-1997; track 1996, 1998-1999).
The Kinnick bust is on loan from the Iowa Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi, Kinnick's UI fraternity. The bust is the only surviving one of two that was created from an original clay bust made by sculptor Dora Mason of Iowa City.
According to the fraternity, it was during a chance meeting in 1940 that Kinnick agreed to let Mason sculpt him as he studied in her Iowa City home. Mason gave one of the bronze casts to the Johnson County I-Club and the other to the fraternity. The bust was displayed at the fraternity house in his memory. It disappeared repeatedly at the hands of pranksters, who always returned it. However, now the group keeps a replica of the bust in its house while the bronze version is stored in a safe place.
Mason, who died in 1999, continued to sculpt and to teach art and pottery classes in Iowa City even into her 90s. About the Kinnick bust, she once said, "It pleases me that I was able to preserve some of the splendor that lived all too briefly in this fine young American."
Here’s the complete schedule of Hawkeye Heroes:
Thursday, Aug. 9:
12-2: Kyle McCann, football 1998-01; and Nolden Gentry, basketball 1957-60.
Friday, Aug. 12:
12-2: Wilburn Hollis, football 1959-61
2-4: Luke Recker, basketball 2000-02
Sunday, Aug. 12:
12-2: Gary Dolphin, broadcaster 1996-present.
2-4: Chuck Yagla, wrestling, 1973-76.
Monday, Aug. 13:
12-2: Mark Ironside, wrestling 1995-99.
2-4: Sherwyn Thorson, football, wrestling 1959-61, 1960 & 1962.
Tuesday, Aug. 14:
12-2: Tim Dwight, football and track 1994-98.
Wednesday, Aug. 15:
12-2: John Filloon, football 1988-91.
2-4: Scott Helverson, football 1981-84.
Thursday, Aug. 16:
2-4: Craig Clemons, football, 1969-71.
Friday, Aug. 16:
Time to be determined: Gary Barta, UI athletics director, 2006-present.
Saturday, Aug. 18:
11-1: Dan Gable, wrestling coach 1976-98.
2-4: Wilbur “Butch” Devine, wrestling 1964-65.
Herky and the spirit squad will be at the UI booth to excite Hawkeye fans from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10, Sunday, Aug. 12 and Friday, Aug. 17.
Visitors will also have the chance to win tickets to UI athletic events and to sport their school pride with Hawkeye temporary tattoos and football posters. For more information on the UI State Fair exhibit, see www.uiowa.edu/statefair.