I40-Bridge memorial design of statue featuring child reaching for dove unveiled

WEBBERS FALLS, Okla. (AP) _ The bronze statue of a child reaching for a dove is an Oklahoma City artist's vision of a memorial to the 14 people who were killed in the Interstate 40 bridge collapse

Thursday, January 9th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6


WEBBERS FALLS, Okla. (AP) _ The bronze statue of a child reaching for a dove is an Oklahoma City artist's vision of a memorial to the 14 people who were killed in the Interstate 40 bridge collapse last year.

Family members of the victims had mixed reactions about the idea from Shahla Rahimi-Reynolds, who joined relatives and state and federal officials in Wednesday's meeting.

Teresa Schulterman's sister, Misty Johnson, and 3-year-old niece Shea Nicole Johnson were among the 14 people killed. Her brother-in-law, James Johnson, also was killed when the Lavaca, Ark., family's car plunged off the interstate into the river.

``We know it's not going to bring them back, but it's nice,'' Schulterman said. ``I hope they'll never be forgotten.''

But Wilma and Harlis Martin, whose son Wayne Martin and daughter-in-law Susan were killed, said their input about the memorial's design wasn't sought. Wayne, a Norman police officer, and Susan Martin were headed for a family reunion in Arkansas.

``We love children,'' Wilma Martin said. ``We just want to see everybody equally recognized.''

Schulterman's niece was the only child killed May 26 when two barges being pushed by a towboat hit piers of the I-40 bridge, causing it to collapse into the murky waters below. Rahimi-Reynolds said the memorial will be topped by the image of a child, but her work will be for everyone.

``The reason we have a child (at the top) is that children are the most innocent,'' the artist said. ``We wanted to represent the innocence.

``We were all children once.''

The memorial will face the bridge. An oval near the bottom will include 14 black granite plaques including all the victims' names, Rahimi-Reynolds said. A span leading from the oval up to the sculpture will be made partially from metal taken from the destroyed bridge.

The dove will represent peace and innocence, Rahimi-Reynolds said.

Harlis Martin suggested that the memorial committee consider other designs and even another artist, but Oklahoma Department of Transportation official Richard Andrews said Rahimi-Reynolds was fairly selected and has little time to finish the work.

``We're trying to get this done by the first anniversary,'' Andrews said.

Webbers Falls Mayor Jewell Horne said many of the family members were not contacted because they live far away and time was a factor. Rahimi-Reynolds did call relatives last week about the meeting.

No cost estimates were available on the memorial Wednesday, but ODOT has earmarked $120,000 in federal enhancement money for the project. Webbers Falls will come up with $30,000 in matching funds.

``We're still trying to raise donations,'' Horne said. ``We have about $8,000 so far.''

William Joe Dedmon was piloting the towboat when the accident happened. Dedmon told authorities that he lost consciousness just before the collision.

Medical tests revealed that he might suffer from a heart condition, according to reports.

Lawsuits against Dedmon, his employers, Magnolia Marine Transport Co. and parent company Ergon Inc., are pending in federal court in Muskogee.
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