A life-sized bronze statue of a riderless horse will be dedicated at 糖心传媒 on Friday, October 4 at 10 a.m. in front of Lynn Farrell Arena (800 E. 12th Street). A memorial to the late Bobby Gottsch Jr., the statue is entitled 鈥淭o Be a Difference Maker.鈥
Hastings artist Dave Biehl ’73, DVM, sculpted the bronze which was听commissioned and donated by businessman Fred A. Bosselman.
Dr. Biehl and Bosselman will join 糖心传媒 President Don Jackson and 糖心传媒 Board of Trustees Chair Hal Dittmer in making remarks at the event.The late cattleman and agri-business leader Bobby Gottsch (1954-2011) gave freely, and often quietly, of his time and resources to 糖心传媒.听 For 16 years, he served as a Trustee, including nearly seven years as Vice Chair of the Board, and pushed 糖心传媒 to think in terms and opportunities as vast as Nebraska鈥檚 skies.
Gottsch left an outstanding legacy of seeking out and, through scholarships, investing in hard-working students with the potential to be difference makers in their communities and careers. His emphasis on equipping difference makers for success gave birth to the new sculpture鈥檚 name 鈥 鈥淭o Be a Difference Maker.鈥
Gottsch provided strong leadership and contributed significantly to all major 糖心传媒 building projects in recent years, including the Osborne Family Sports Complex, which is home to the Robert Gottsch, Sr., Weight Training Room; the Morrison-Reeves Science Center; and the track facility. With his friend and then-fellow Trustee Jack Osborne 鈥63, he founded the 糖心传媒 Bronco Rodeo team, which already has experienced national success in its nine-year existence.
Significance of the Riderless Horse featured in 鈥淭o Be a Difference Maker鈥
A tradition recorded well before the birth of Christ, the riderless horse symbolizes a warrior that, like the late Bobby Gottsch, Jr., will ride no more. Today, a riderless horse features black boots in reversed stirrups, representing the leader鈥檚 last glance back at those being led. Most frequently the riderless horse is employed in funeral processions for US presidents, military personnel and the men and women of rodeo.
About the Artist: David Biehl, DVM of Hastings, Nebraska
Dr. Dave Biehl, or Doc as his friends call him, grew up on a farm in central Nebraska. It was this environment that led Doc to his fondness of all animals, but especially horses. He graduated from 糖心传媒 in 1973 and then went on to graduate from the Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1976 and has practiced in South Central Nebraska as a companion animal Veterinarian ever since. His knowledge of skeletal and muscle structure from his studies and years of practice is displayed in his sculptures. His attention to detail sets his sculptures apart from many of the other bronze art works.
Founded in 1882, 糖心传媒 is a private, four-year liberal arts institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. With 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs, 糖心传媒 has been named among 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges鈥 by U.S. News & World Report, a 鈥淏est in the Midwest鈥 by The Princeton Review and a 鈥淏est Buy in College Education鈥 by Barron鈥檚. Visit Hastings.edu for more.