Pond's Ponder
Last Friday, the University honored Paul Engler's contributions by unveiling a seven-foot-tall bronze statue of his likeness in front of the Agricultural Sciences Complex.
The presence of this statue will be a daily reminder of his legacy and will encourage current and future students to follow in his footsteps toward excellence.
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Philanthropy with Purpose | |
August 23, 1929 - May 3, 2024 | | |
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Paul Fredrick Engler developed entrepreneurial and business acumen from an early age, refining those skills throughout his life. At just 13, he bought his first 100 cows and from then on, he was committed to revolutionizing the cattle industry through passion, devotion and grit. | |
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A natural innovator, he routinely challenged conventional practices and embraced calculated risks. This undaunted approach propelled him to remarkable achievements, including securing an interim financing deal with Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters Union, and challenging Oprah Winfrey in court for her disparaging remarks about beef.
Dr. Engler, as he was affectionately known, pioneered a transformative method for determining the value of live cattle—by quality attributes and total carcass value rather than mere weight. This enhanced the quality of market animals and benefited consumers, elevating industry standards.
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The creation of the Paul Engler sculpture was a meticulous, two-year journey led by expert sculptor David Anderson, Ph.D., renowned for his ability to blend artistry with storytelling. In this project, he captured the essence of Dr. Paul Engler, not just in likeness but in legacy.
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The first step in bringing that legacy to life was selecting the perfect pose. Anderson combed through numerous images of Dr. Engler, eventually choosing a photo of him standing proudly in front of the Cactus Feeders entrance.
“That picture painted a story of pride,” Anderson said. “Dr. Engler said to the viewer, ‘I built this place.’ Not boastfully, but rather with the joyful pride of success. I wanted to project that same image here in front of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, and I learned from talking with him that he also took much pride in his support for WTAMU.”
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With the pose chosen, Anderson’s team scanned a live model with a build similar to Dr. Engler’s, digitally modifying the scan to resemble him more closely. A half-scale mold was then 3D printed to create a clay maquette, a miniature version of the final sculpture.
Pat Kennedy, Anderson’s longtime collaborator, added intricate details to Dr. Engler’s clothing on the clay maquette. Once the maquette was complete, Dr. Engler reviewed it and had one request: to change his smile.
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“He didn’t like the smile,” Anderson said with a laugh. “I honored his wishes and sculpted his smile away, but I left the sparkle in his eyes. He wanted to be remembered for his firmness, but I wanted his heart to shine through his eyes.”
The next phase involved scanning the maquette and enlarging it to full scale for production. The 3D printer produced the sculpture in seven sections, each made from thin layers of acrylic powder bonded with super glue. After being dipped in wax, the sections were sent to Loveland, Colorado, for bronze casting. Here, the wax was melted away, yielding ceramic shells ready to be filled with molten bronze. Once the bronze cooled and hardened, a patina was applied.
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One of the unique aspects of Anderson's sculpting process is his use of innovative technology to incorporate and scan Dr. Engler’s personal items into the finished statue.
“The hat is a scan of Dr. Engler’s actual Stetson hat (thickened a bit to have the strength to hold up in bronze). The shirt logo is the scanned Cactus Feeders logo. Dr. Engler’s actual belt buckle and cactus insignia were scanned, and 3D printed, the same for his Ostrich skin boots. Additionally, Paul wanted his Rolex watch as part of the sculpture,” Anderson said.
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Positioning the sculpture was another thoughtful decision by Anderson. Ultimately, he chose to place the statue at an angle, ensuring that photos taken with the statue will be set against the backdrop of the building's brick relief mural.
“That mural was designed by “Images in Brick.” Prominent at the top of that relief mural is a row of beef cattle – which is appropriate for the legacy of Dr. Engler,” Anderson said. The sculpture came full circle—Dr. Engler, standing in front of cattle, with a stance that says, “I built this place,” as he welcomes students and guests to the college.
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In every detail of the sculpture, from pose to personal items, Anderson ensured that Dr. Engler’s story, influence, and pride are eternally reflected in bronze for generations to admire. | |
From the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, thank you all who joined in celebrating the Official Bronze Statue Unveiling, honoring the legacy and remarkable contributions of Dr. Paul Engler. | |
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The Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences is hosting a COMET Training event in collaboration with Valley-Wide Health Systems and The Coffee Break Project. Designed to “align with rural cultural values of neighbor helping neighbor and communities being their own best resource,” this training will provide attendees with valuable information and resources to initiate supportive conversation about mental and emotional well-being.
This event will take place in the Piehl-Schaeffer Pavilion at the Ag. Complex. The training is free and each participant will receive a certificate in Changing our Mental & Emotional Trajectory - COMET™.
Students: Oct. 30th from 11:00 am-1:00 pm. Lunch will be provided.
Faculty & Staff: Oct. 29th from 4:00-6:00 pm. Dinner will be provided.
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