By FHSU University Relations<\/b><\/p>\n
Toby Flores, associate professor of art and design at Fort Hays State University, and Danielle Robinson, adjunct art faculty, were chosen by Codell to design and fabricate a 15-foot cyclone sculpture in honor of \u201cCyclone Day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDanielle and I felt honored to be selected by the city of Codell,\u201d said Flores. \u201cWe instantly connected with the people in charge of the project. They were easy to get along with and we were all passionate about the strange history of this event.\u201d<\/p>\n
For three consecutive years, in 1916, 1917 and 1918, Codell was struck by tornadoes on May 20, which community residents have now labeled \u201cCyclone Day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Codell, in Rooks County about 34 miles northeast of Hays, now has less than 100 residents.<\/p>\n
The steel sculpture was dedicated on May 20.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dedication was awesome,\u201d said Flores. \u201cIt really was a great feeling to have the project finished and to celebrate it with our families and the people of Codell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was also very emotional because this is a part of their families\u2019 history. They lost family and friends on this day and we were also there to remember them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
About 150 people attended the dedication, which included a band, speeches by Merril Teller and Joel Russell and a cookout. People brought newspaper clippings and old photographs from the time of the original cyclones.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt good to have the support of the people who live in that community or once lived there,\u201d said Flores. \u201cIt was a great day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Flores and Robinson have created four local public sculptures together, including St. Nicholas at the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, the golfers at the Smoky Hill Country Club and the historical door stops at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau building.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of these projects have special meaning, but this one was my favorite,\u201d he said. \u201cThe people of Codell made it a very special project from beginning to end.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes a certain amount of bravery to erect a public piece of art anywhere, but especially in a small western Kansas town.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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