Edward R. Murrow, 1908-1965, according to the plaque at the base of the sculpture was a "pioneer in broadcast journalism and Guilford County native." Murrow, the son of local Quakers, was known for his on-the-scene reporting from Europe, especially during the blitz of London in World War II. He produced a series of television news reports that contributed to the eventual political downfall of Senator Joseph McCarthy. He was the director of the United States Information Agency under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.
The above sculpture was made by Ogden Deal and commissioned by Greensboro Chamber of Commerce and Cumberland Development Corporation in 1970. We love this "larger than life" sculpture off of Church Street on the property of the Greensboro Historical Museum and very near the underused Murrow Boulevard.
Wonder what Murrow would say about all the changes in journalism today? Anyone with a computer (and a camera???) calls themself a journalist. Newspaper reading has gone from a sacred, much-anticipated daily ritual in all households to something associated with the older generation.
Regarding today's photo--from a photographer's perspective: We love the scale the sculpture balanced with the diminutive appearance of the car lot in the background. At first the wires in the background bothered us. Then, we decided that having communication continually flowing through Mr. Morrow's head was part of the sculptor's intent!
So, in the words of Ed Murrow, repeated nightly by Keith Olbermann as a tribute to his idol, "Good night and good luck!"
Addendum: After the "Easter Island" comments we went back to view this sculpture of Murrow again. It is not nearly as large as it seems in this picture. The camera lens had a fisheye effect! If you are local, we hope you will go and see it for yourself!
Love this big head. True what you say about today's journalism...the quality of language has declined, too.
Posted by: Bibi | Thursday, April 02, 2009 at 06:13 AM
Boy, that's yellow! Cheerful photo!!
Posted by: Bibi | Thursday, April 02, 2009 at 06:14 AM
Boy does he forever need BOTOX. My daughter did a BOTOX PARTY where all dipped into the fountain of youth.
AND SEEMS doing these little make-overs isn't private anymore...they said Tupperware and Beauty Control parties are a thing of the past. A sign of the times, I would say.
Posted by: June | Thursday, April 02, 2009 at 08:04 AM
I love this one! First, I didn't know he was a native, that is interesting. And looking at the statue, all I can think of, is, Easter Island!
Posted by: David Burke | Thursday, April 02, 2009 at 08:48 AM
whoa, that is a monumental statue. It does remind me of easter island also. I am glad you enjoyed the Chihuly Saffron Tower on my site for theme day. I have a daytime photo of the Saffron Tower up today. Thanks for your comments.
Posted by: julie scottsdaledailyphoto.com | Thursday, April 02, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Yes, I love this one. Don't forget the great movie that George Clooney directed in 2005 intitled "Good Night and Good Luck" with David Straharn as Edward R. Murrow. It was up for several academy awards, but I don't recall now how many it may have won. It dealt with media responsibility. You have now featured most of the hometown celebs that have statues with one exception. Maybe you can guess whic one?! JTM
Posted by: Jane Mitchell | Thursday, April 02, 2009 at 02:09 PM
I think I know the one you mean, Jane. I'll bet it's this guy, or were you thinking of the bronze one? http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/Greensboro/templates/WideContentPage.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2Fdepartments%2FLibrary%2Fohenry%2FNews%2Band%2BRecord%2Fgr04261972.htm%3Fwbc_purpose%3DBasic%26WBCMODE%3DPresentationUnpublished%252CPresentationUnpublished&NRNODEGUID=%7B71B7E1B3-1EF7-4F96-B7D4-A08993C3A375%7D&NRCACHEHINT=Guest&wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished
Posted by: David T | Thursday, April 02, 2009 at 02:27 PM
He looks very unhappy!
Posted by: cieldequimper | Thursday, April 02, 2009 at 03:03 PM
How have I never seen this? That's the second thing I've seen this week that I must have been by a thousand times and never noticed. I'm so glad I've found this blog!
Posted by: Melissa | Thursday, April 02, 2009 at 03:32 PM
I used to listen to the guy. Thought he was good, but never thought he'd get as big a head as this!
Posted by: Jacob | Thursday, April 02, 2009 at 08:00 PM
I agree -the wires running through his head really add to this fine sculpture. And what an interesting man.
Great Blog by the way, one of the best I've seen!
Posted by: Con | Friday, April 03, 2009 at 01:12 AM
I never met him in person, Edward R. Murrow, but felt like I knew him all my life. The great names in broadcast journalism came over from radio and some were better at it than others. But I listened to Murrow during World War II in my country schoolhouse and he was broadcasting (radio) "London Calling" and you always heard bombs going off somewhere around him. We were also losing the war on both fronts (Atlantic and Pacific) when people listened to him and the rest of the war news if they could get around a radio.
I did post about how I do extreme cropping in photoshop to get the results in the picture and not the picture I photographed.
Posted by: Abraham Lincoln | Friday, April 03, 2009 at 05:30 AM
I was kind of looking around tonight for some of my late father's work. I found this piece, and also mentioned in the comments is a picture of O'Henry as a boy. My father also did that piece, and it's actually a composite of O'Henry and my brother Jeff Deal. Jeff still lives out in McLeansville and was very active in the Jaycees, and in his parental involvement in the rebuilding of Eastern High School.
My brothers Jeff and Chuck and I am in this picture with our father, at the Davie County Library. We now stand in the courtyard area of the library.
Just thought you might like to know...
Posted by: Suzanne Deal-Fitzgerald | Monday, September 14, 2009 at 11:01 PM
I could have given you the link, right?
http://digitalstatelibnc.cdmhost.com/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p249901coll36&CISOPTR=125&DMSCA...LE=39.70880&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMMODE=viewer&DMTEXT=&REC=9&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0
Posted by: Suzanne Deal-Fitzgerald | Monday, September 14, 2009 at 11:02 PM