Fulbright Statue Removed While Base is Being Repaired

The statue of J. William Fulbright, one of the iconic images on the University of Arkansas campus, has been temporarily removed from its place on the west side of Old Main.

“The granite facing on the concrete base of the statue was cracking and coming loose,” said Mike Johnson, associate vice chancellor for facilities. “We are installing a solid granite base in its place. There was also a problem with the tiles on the pavement with our donors names – they were made out of clay and were crumbling. They will be replaced so the names can be engraved on a much more permanent material .”

The total project will cost between $125,000-$145,000, and will be paid from reserves from the Old Main Restoration Fund.

“We were able to save thousands of dollars because the granite for the new pedestal will be the same material as is being used for the Pi Phi Gate that’s now under construction,” said Johnson. “We saw a substantial savings by getting the material for both projects at the same time.”

The Fulbright statue is currently in a safe and secure storage area. Johnson said he expects the project to be complete and the statue back in its place within two months.