A bronze statue of the Rev. Livingston Wills, affectionately called the “Broom Man,” will soon stand in Midtown Crossing in Omaha as a tribute to his legacy and contributions to the community. Sculptor John Lajba described the effort to capture Wills’ essence in the statue. “He never thought of himself as a bigger-than-life person. He just thought of himself as someone who did his best,” Lajba said. Wills, who was visually impaired, became a beloved figure in Omaha as he walked the streets selling brooms. Lajba explained how Wills managed to sell his handmade brooms despite his impairment. “I mean, here he had to juggle like five or six brooms in his hand without really seeing. He didn’t really grip them; he felt them, and he had to listen. That’s why I have his head slightly cocked. It’s tilted because he’s listening and he’s actually whistling,” Lajba said. Fundraisers initially approached Lajba about the project before the city of Omaha became involved. Mayor John Ewing Jr. highlighted the importance of honoring Wills. “We were just able to help them get over the finish line and agree that this was something that was a great honor for a great man who had a great vision for this city,” Ewing said. Ewing also reflected on Wills’ interactions with the community. “And then when you were able to buy a broom from him, you also got to have a chance to have a conversation,” Ewing said. Wills died in 2008, but his memory lives on in the careful craftsmanship of the statue. Lajba shared details about the process. “We bury the pieces so there’s no risk of cracking or anything, and we pour the molten metal into where the wax was. Shortly, we’re going to take these out and maybe crack a little bit of that white stuff,” Lajba said.An actual broom purchased from Wills in the 1980s was used as a reference for accuracy in the statue’s design. The statue will be installed at the corner of Farnam Street and Turner Boulevard, just north of the World War II Memorial, with the dedication expected to take place in September.
OMAHA, Neb. —
A bronze statue of the Rev. Livingston Wills, affectionately called the “Broom Man,” will soon stand in Midtown Crossing in Omaha as a tribute to his legacy and contributions to the community.
Sculptor John Lajba described the effort to capture Wills’ essence in the statue.
“He never thought of himself as a bigger-than-life person. He just thought of himself as someone who did his best,” Lajba said.
Wills, who was visually impaired, became a beloved figure in Omaha as he walked the streets selling brooms.
Lajba explained how Wills managed to sell his handmade brooms despite his impairment.
“I mean, here he had to juggle like five or six brooms in his hand without really seeing. He didn’t really grip them; he felt them, and he had to listen. That’s why I have his head slightly cocked. It’s tilted because he’s listening and he’s actually whistling,” Lajba said.
Fundraisers initially approached Lajba about the project before the city of Omaha became involved.
Mayor John Ewing Jr. highlighted the importance of honoring Wills.
“We were just able to help them get over the finish line and agree that this was something that was a great honor for a great man who had a great vision for this city,” Ewing said.
Ewing also reflected on Wills’ interactions with the community.
“And then when you were able to buy a broom from him, you also got to have a chance to have a conversation,” Ewing said.
Wills died in 2008, but his memory lives on in the careful craftsmanship of the statue.
Lajba shared details about the process.
“We bury the pieces so there’s no risk of cracking or anything, and we pour the molten metal into where the wax was. Shortly, we’re going to take these out and maybe crack a little bit of that white stuff,” Lajba said.
An actual broom purchased from Wills in the 1980s was used as a reference for accuracy in the statue’s design.
The statue will be installed at the corner of Farnam Street and Turner Boulevard, just north of the World War II Memorial, with the dedication expected to take place in September.