 In this photo (right),
Jim Hamilton viewed his larger-than-life size
work, OSU Spirit Rider, commissioned by Oklahoma State University
Alumni Association, soon after it was installed in 1994 on the OSU
campus in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Hamilton also sculpted a larger than life bronze of a legendary
Texas longhorn steer for the University of Texas Ex-Students
Association. That work was installed in 1992 on UT's Austin, Texas
campus. Next . . . How the Spirit Rider
brought a student body together and instilled hope. |
| Spirit Rider - the Spiritual Symbol for OSU Students
Tragedy -- that's the
only word to describe what happened on a snowy January 2001 night
in central Colorado. A plane crash* that claimed the lives of ten
men long before their time sent an immediate shockwave hundreds of
miles away to the campus of Oklahoma State University in
Stillwater, OK. Only something this traumatic could bring
Stillwater's most popular "jumpin' little juke joint" to
its knees. Loud music and pool matches were replaced with whispers
of "Amazing Grace" and tears as students peered over
each other to gather answers from the television screens around
the dome.
Late that night and in the weeks to come, one of our
university's most recognizable figures stood tall. Now seemingly
saddened as if to sense something had gone wrong; terribly wrong.
That figure, which had posed for pictures with countless
people, from small children to university regents, was now an
alter place for those same students, family and friends. But now,
instead of taking pictures, they were giving of their hearts. They
left behind flowers, questions and tears. And "The Spirit Rider," now heavy
from carrying the heartache and grief of an entire university,
state and even the nation on its back, had now become the
background for news casts from around the country.
We may never fully comprehend the reasons God took the lives of
those ten men, but one lesson was learned from the evening's
tragedy. Life is short, and life is precious. Never before had the
saying, "Live life to the fullest" been more real.
May we never forget the difficult but important lessons God has
taught us, and may we never forget those ten who were taken long
before their time. And each time we see that symbol that
represents Oklahoma State University, may we remember. It would be
wrong to say that this statue was worshipped during that time of
grief, but instead, it has become a symbol of hope that the spirit rides again!
*Saturday, January 27, 2001, Denver,
Colorado -- Crash Report
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that a plane
carrying eight passengers and two pilots crashed about 80 miles
northeast of Denver this date. Those aboard the plane were
returning from a game in ColoradoTwo Oklahoma State University
athletes, Daniel Lawson and Nate Fleming, were among those killed
in the crash. Others included Pat Noyes, OSU's director of
basketball operations; Jared Weiberg, student manager; Brian
Luinstra, athletic trainer; Will Hancock, coordinator of media
relations; Kendall Durfey, campus radio engineer; Bill Teegins,
KWTV, the voice of OSU football and basketball; and two pilots,
Denver Mills and Bjorn Falistrom.
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