Jerry McKenna

Jerry McKenna is an American sculptor whose work can be found in museums, churches, stadiums, halls of fame, universities, parks, public buildings, and private collections around the world. He is most noted for his bronze sculptures of military leaders, religious figures and sports stars.[1]

Biography

Born on December 28, 1937, McKenna is a former U.S. Air Force officer and decorated Vietnam War veteran, his early recognition came from his bronze portraits of famous Air Force generals, such as Generals Henry "Hap" Arnold," Jimmy Doolittle, Doyle E. Larson, Billy Mitchell, Ira C. Eaker, and John Dale Ryan[2] Over the past 35 years, he has done nearly one hundred military-related pieces, including several Medal of Honor recipients. In 1994, McKenna was commissioned to create The Lincoln-Douglas Debate that stands in Lincoln-Douglas Square in Alton, Ill, at the exact spot where the last of the famous debates took place in 1857.[3]

McKenna also creates religious art. In Texas, his bronze baptismal fonts stand in St. Mary's Cathedral in Amarillo, St. Brigid's Church and St. Mark the Evangelist Church in San Antonio, and St. Peter the Apostle Church in Boerne. He also sculpted The Holy Family for the Church of the Epiphany in Normal, IL and a thirteen-foot crucifix for the Holy Family Chapel at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, OH. His greatest religious commission came in 1987 when he was selected to create the Processional Cross for the mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II in San Antonio.

McKenna's sports sculptures encompass football stars, hockey hall of famers, an Irish hurling legend and a one-time amateur boxer. They include seventeen portrait busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Knute Rockne at the College Football Hall of Fame and his birthplace in Voss, Norway,[4][5] sculptures of Charles A. Comiskey at U. S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Dan Devine, George Gipp, Frank Leahy, Lou Holtz,[6] Ara Parseghian and Moose Krause at Notre Dame Stadium,[7] Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch for the University of Wisconsin, The French Connection (ice hockey) (Rick Martin, Gilbert Perrault, and René Robert) at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY; Basketball coach Bill Sudeck at Western Reserve University; hurling star Ollie Walsh in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and two sculptures of Tim Horton—one in Buffalo and the other in Hamilton, Ontario;,[8] his sculpture of the late Ralph Wilson, founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills, unveiled at Ralph Wilson Stadium in September 2015.,[9] and onetime amateur boxer Packy East... also known as Bob Hope

Over the years he has received many awards, such as the University of Notre Dame's 1962 Emil Jacques Medal of Fine Arts and the 2001 Rev. Anthony J. Lauck Award. Also, in 2001, McKenna was awarded an Honorary ND Monogram by the Notre Dame National Monogram Club.[10] He was named the 2003 Sports Sculptor of the Year by the All-American Football Foundation. In 2013, IRISH AMERICA Magazine added him to their list of the Top 100 Irish Americans. And, in 2014, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) named his sculpture of The Four Horsemen as the number one in their list of the Top Five Statues in College Football (His Ara Parseghian, AKA “Victory”, came in fifth).

McKenna began his formal study of art at the age of fourteen at the Gertrude Herbert School of Art in Augusta, Georgia. Later, he continued his studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and at the San Antonio Art Institute. He received Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he studied under Robert Leader and Dr. Stanley Sasha Sessler, and was influenced by the sculptor-in-residence, Ivan Meštrović.[11] He also received a Master of Arts from Webster University in 1981.

McKenna lives in the small Texas Hill Country community of Boerne, Texas and works in a studio that was originally built as a cattle barn. Born in Connellsville, PA, McKenna has lived in Texas for over forty years.[12] He is proud of his Pennsylvania roots but says, "I have traveled the world over and I have yet to find a more perfect place to work. It offers beauty, peace, and sunshine for most of the year." He has the distinction of holding both U.S. and Irish citizenship and he spends part of each year in Ireland.[13] In 2016, was named Chieftain of the worldwide Clann MacKenna, at a ceremony in County Monaghan, Ireland. In June 2016, he was inducted into the Lou Holtz/Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame,[14] joining the likes of Clark Gable, and Dean Martin.

In addition to sculpture, McKenna’s other interests include travel, history, photography and writing. His book, "A THIRD LIFE — Sculptures for God, County & Notre Dame" is in its second edition. He is an Artist-Fellow of the American Society of Aviation Artists and a Member of the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts.

Personal life

McKenna claims as his hometowns: Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Lakewood, Ohio, East Liverpool, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, San Antonio, Texas and most recently Boerne, Texas. Schools attended include: Boys Catholic High School in Augusta, Georgia, Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tennessee, St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, American Academy of Art, University of Notre Dame (BFA, 1962) and Webster University (MA, 1981).

McKenna was married to Stephanie Lyn Hawkins from 1961 - 1971, and Gail Ann Thomas from 1972–present. He has daughter, Colleen Marie McKenna, and four sons: Michael Rockne McKenna, Patrick Jerome McKenna, Colonel Seán Stephen McKenna, and Daniel Coughlin McKenna. He has eleven grandchildren.[15]

Military Service

McKenna served in the United States Air Force from 1963-1989, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He attended Squadron Officer School (1963), Air Command and Staff College (1976), and Industrial College of the Armed Forces, now called the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (1979). He served in the Vietnam War.

Major Awards and Decorations:

Sculptures

Military related:

Religious:

Sports:

Other:

References

  1. ↑ Lefebvre, Jim. "Forever Irish". Forever Irish - Celebrating the Heritage of Notre Dame Football. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Koidin Jaffee, Michelle (December 17, 2010). "AF officer molded career in sculpture". Express-News. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square". "Freeport/Stephenson County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  4. ↑ McKenna, Jerry. "Sculpting Rockne". Notre Dame Magazine. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "Rockne sculpture unveiled". Winter 2005-2006. Notre Dame Magazine. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  6. ↑ "Lou Holtz Sculpture To Be Dedicated Saturday Morning". UND.COM - Notre Dame Official Athletic Site. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "Fighting Irish Coaching Legends Take Their Place Under the Sun". Forever Irish. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  8. ↑ "Advertisement or not, Tim Horton Statue adds to waterfront landscape". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Bills to erect statue of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.". The Buffalo Bills Website. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "2001 Honorary Monogram Recipients". ND National Monogram Club. UND.COM. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  11. ↑ Hamilton, Rachel; Hannah Storm. "Sculpting ND Memories". Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  12. ↑ "Irish Central". Irish Central. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  13. ↑ "Jerry McKenna". Irish America. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  14. ↑ "Lou Holtz Hall of Fame". Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "About the Artist". Jerry McKenna, Sculptor.
  16. ↑ "Bronze bust in Madelia's Veteran's Memorial Park honor's city's distinguished native". NUJournal. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  17. ↑ "Visual Art around Merrillville, Indiana". LakeNet. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  18. ↑ Klamer Barry, Sue. "Honoring Msgr. Campion and Campion's Champions". Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  19. ↑ Jyoti. "Public Art in Chicago: Pioneer Court". Public Art in Chicago. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  20. ↑ "Devine Sculpture Completes Circle of Notre Dame Championship Coaches". Forever Irish.
  21. ↑ "Portfolio Page". Jerry McKenna, Sculptor.
  22. ↑ Coughlin, Dan. "Coughlin: Times have changed at Notre Dame". The Chronicle-Telegram. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
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