A permanent tribute to one of Corpus Christi’s most famous natives could soon become a reality.
City officials are working to bring a proposal before the Corpus Christi City Council on July 28 to approve a statue honoring Farrah Fawcett, the Corpus Christi-born actress and W.B. Ray High School graduate who rose to international fame as one of the stars of Charlie’s Angels.
While the proposal is still tentative, Parks and Recreation Director Robert Dodd said the city is optimistic about moving the project forward.
“It’s tentatively scheduled for July 28 to go to council,” Dodd said. “We’re excited about the opportunity. To say that it’s there for sure, no, not quite, but we’re working towards it.”
Dodd said honoring Fawcett is about recognizing someone who proudly represented Corpus Christi throughout her career.
“Farrah Fawcett is a local icon,” Dodd said. “She was born here in Corpus Christi. She graduated from W.B. Ray High School. She had a long acting career and always remembered Corpus Christi as being a big part of her life.”
If approved, the city is considering several possible locations for the statue, including an area near the Art Center of Corpus Christi.
Dodd said no final site has been selected, but the goal is to place the monument in a location that reflects Fawcett’s connection to the arts and gives her the recognition she deserves.
“We want to give her the recognition that she deserves,” Dodd said. “Somewhere around the Arts Center is something that I think would make it more iconic.”
The proposed statue would be created by David Deming, a nationally recognized sculptor from Cleveland, Ohio. According to Dodd, Deming’s work includes the Superman statue outside the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland as well as sculptures honoring University of Texas football legends outside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
“We’re getting a very good product from a very well-known sculptor,” Dodd said. “It’s something we’re excited to see through.”
Dodd said the effort to honor Fawcett was spearheaded by several of her former classmates from W.B. Ray High School, who partnered with the city to advance the idea.
For Dodd, the project is also personal. “She was such an icon,” he said. “Coming from Corpus Christi made it even better for me that I was from Corpus Christi. We’re just excited to offer something to our Corpus Christians from a Corpus Christian.”
If the City Council approves the proposal, the statue would become a permanent tribute to one of Corpus Christi’s best-known hometown celebrities and celebrate her lasting impact on the community she always called home.