BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) — The bronze statue of famed Biloxi native and Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise is an eye catcher and draws the attention of many tourists traveling Highway 90. But, the work of art often draws an eyebrow-raising question: what’s that on his head?
Fred Haise statue crowned with spikes.(WLOX)
Texas residents Jim and Melanie Gault through the spikes were part of the statue’s design.(WLOX)
“I was like, what the heck?” said Candy Herring as she and her Texas family stood in front of the statue.
“I thought it was his hair,” added Jim Gault, who is also visiting from Texas.
“Did a bird build a nest on top of his head?” asked Cheryl Bell, another tourist from Texas.
The spikes are there to prevent bird nests, but the bird deterrent has an uncanny resemblance to a spiked haircut. It even spawned an internet meme: Punk Rock Fred.
The spikes on the Fred Haise statue spawned an internet meme “Punk Rock Fred.”(WLOX)
“I’m not real impressed with it, because when I saw it, I thought it was kind of belittling,” said Gulfport native James Vierling.
After the statue was placed in September 2022, the City of Biloxi was faced with a problem: birds resting on the statue’s head were using the restroom and causing discoloration to the work of art.
By 2023, the City of Biloxi installed spikes as a bird deterrent.
Fred Haise statue in 2023 with damage from seagulls.(WLOX)
“[The statue] was never intended to have anything on him,” said the statue’s creator Mary Ott Tremmel Davidson. “I wish that the crown on his head wasn’t there.”
Vincent Creel, a member of the Biloxi Beautification Commission, agreed with Davidson.
That’s why the commission asked the city to remove the spikes before the re-dedication ceremony on June 27, 2026.
“The beautification commission asked if we can remove those spikes as part of the efforts to spruce up this area,” Creel explained. And we were happy the city agreed to take them down.”
Fred Haise statue creator Mary Ott Tremmel Davidson.(WLOX)
Biloxi Beautification Commission member Vincent Creel.(WLOX)
But, less than a month later, the spikes are back.
The statue’s creator said it looks “even worse” now.
“It’s more obtuse,” Davidson said. “I know of other things that could be used [as bird deterrents] that wouldn’t be so distracting. We need to find a solution that is becoming to Fred Haise.”
WLOX News reached out to the City of Biloxi for comment.
The spikes are a temporary measure to prevent damage until an alternative measure is found, said a city spokesperson.
“This might be the best answer, but we hope there’s something better,” Creel said. “In honor of this creativity, let’s be more respectful. We’re not the first city that’s had a statue with a bird problem.”
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