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<\/p>\nThe proposed Mac Davis statue in Lubbock will soon get \u201ca little less conversation\u201d and \u201ca little more action\u201d \u2013 a reference to one of his songs made famous by Elvis Presley.<\/p>\n
The City Council approved up to $400,000 from the North Overton Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Zone for the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was an incredible songwriter and is known for his music that he sang. But so many artists sing his songs. It\u2019s quite incredible,\u201d Mayor Mark McBrayer said.<\/p>\n
Davis hit No. 1 in 1972 singing his own song \u201cBaby, Don\u2019t Get Hooked on Me.\u201d<\/p>\n
But others, including Elvis, took his music to the Billboard charts as well \u2013 for example, \u201cIn the Ghetto\u201d and \u201cMemories.\u201d He also co-wrote \u201cWhite Limozeen\u201d with Dolly Parton.<\/p>\n
The statue is proposed for the traffic circle at Mac Davis Lane and Avenue X.<\/p>\n
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\t\tMac Davis (left) and Don Caldwell (right). Credit: L. Scott Mann.<\/p>\n
Former Mayor Marc McDougal spoke during Tuesday\u2019s council meeting, saying, \u201cWe feel like this is a perfect location for this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Davis, a Lubbock native born in 1942, grew up in the same neighborhood where his statue will stand. He died in 2020 and is buried in the Lubbock Cemetery.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve already named the former 6th Street, Mac Davis Lane,\u201d McDougal said of the renaming of the street between University Avenue on the west and Texas Avenue on the east.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think this is very fitting to have the statue of Mac there and honor him and [his wife] Lise in that manner,\u201d McDougal said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re hoping to have this up in January maybe. But we\u2019re going to move as fast as we can,\u201d McDougal said.<\/p>\n
Eddie Dixon is the sculptor, and the statue is already at the foundry, McDougal told the Council.<\/p>\n
Councilwoman Christy Martinez-Garcia said, \u201cIt gives us another landmark to showcase. So, we\u2019re really excited about it, and I look forward to the dedication.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was an opportunity to approve the item without public discussion, but McBrayer highlighted it because he felt like Davis deserved the recognition.<\/p>\n
McBrayer said, \u201cI just appreciate him, appreciate his music, appreciate his love for Lubbock. And I just think this is a very fitting tribute to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
McBrayer also wanted to head off negative perceptions if the statue just went up one day without a public discussion.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people will say, \u2018Well, who\u2019s paying for it?\u2019 \u2013 thinking the city is paying for it with their tax money. But it\u2019s being paid for by the North Overton Tax Increment Fund,\u201d McBrayer said.<\/p>\n
The effort to get a statue is more than five years old. Former councilman Randy Christian and others participated in a Mac Davis Tribute Committee which lobbied the TIF in 2021 for support.<\/p>\n
Christian told KLBK News, \u201cHe was always proud to tell people wherever he was that he was from Lubbock, Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n
The late Don Caldwell at that time told KLBK, \u201cMac Davis was one of the sweetest guys who ever lived. He was very considerate of other people \u2013 did a bunch of stuff to help people that he never talked about and bragged about.\u201d<\/p>\n
McDougal told LubbockLights.com the Mac Davis committee spearheaded the project, while the TIF provided the funding. The statue and site work are expected to cost slightly less than $400,000, McDougal also said.<\/p>\n
The TIF needs budget approval from the city, which is why the matter came up for a vote on Tuesday. It will need a second and final vote at the next council meeting.<\/p>\n
The city created the TIF in 2002 in the North Overton neighborhood. The TIF allowed the city to reinvest increases in property tax revenue back into the same neighborhood.<\/p>\n
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