Published: September 06, 2008 12:28 am      

Group plans to honor Russell Dougherty

Edmond Parks Foundation is ready to begin fundraising in earnest for a life-size statue to be erected on the grounds of Russell Dougherty Elementary School.

“Our intention with this project is to honor one of Edmond’s greatest generation heroes,” said Curt Munson, member of the foundation.

“Once completed, it is our goal that the statue will serve as a reminder to generations of children not yet born that others sacrificed for them and to honor those remaining veterans of World War II and all of the wars in which Edmondites have served.”

Dougherty was an Edmond native and the first graduate of Edmond High School killed during World War II. He was an Air Corps bomber pilot flying with the 307th Bomb Group known as the “Lone Rangers” and was awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters for missions in the Pacific.

Dougherty was 24 years old and stationed on Quadalcanal when he and 11 crewmen crashed with a heavy bomb load in their B-24 over the Solomon Islands in April 1943.

“Mr. Munson had contacted me this summer, and I am extremely excited about the project,” said Russell Dougherty Principal Paula Stafford. “We take great pride in being able to honor one of our veterans and being part of the historic downtown.”

Munson said the statue hopefully will be added to the 84 statues that are partnerships with the Edmond Visual Arts Commission and which have been erected with the help of various individuals and organizations in Edmond.

Dougherty’s son, Russell “Chris” Dougherty, was in Edmond Wednesday visiting with Munson, who also is a member of the Edmond Kiwanis Club.

Chris spoke at the Kiwanis Club, which has taken on the project as a fundraiser this year.

He said his mother Winifred Hoffman Dougherty Skidgel passed away in 1992.

“My family is just thrilled to death,” Dougherty said. “We didn’t even know about the project until about 10 days ago.

“It has been only recently that my family has been able to find out what happened to my father. In August I attended a meeting with (the survivors of) my father’s squadron and met with his commander who saw his plane crash.”

Chris lives in Keller, Texas, with his wife Donna and one of his twin sons, Russell. His four grandchildren live close by with his other son, Michael.

Edmond Board of Education members voted Tuesday to approve a proposal from the Edmond Parks Foundation to erect a life-size statue of the male figure in WW II flight gear representing Russell Dougherty, the individual for whom the school is named.

Approval of this proposal will allow Edmond Parks Foundation to begin fundraising for the project.

The casting of the life-size statue is expected to cost $67,000 and will be paid for through donations, Munson said.

“So far we have raised $12,000 toward the project and we are taking donations at this time,” Munson said. “The project is a 501(c)3, and donations are tax deductible.

“I’m a history buff, and I just love Edmond,” Munson said. “I would like to see more statues portraying the history of Edmond.”

“Leaping into History,” the bronze statue of Kentucky Daisy was the first statue sponsored by the Edmond Parks Foundation, and Munson said he would like to see one of Ida Freeman, a roughneck and a Boomer, placed in appropriate places around Edmond.

Russell Dougherty Elementary School was built in several phases with the south section completed first. Kingsley School, which stood on the existing playground facing Littler, was demolished in 1946. Russell Dougherty School served as a junior high until 1957 and then as an elementary school.

TO DONATE money for the statue, send it in care of the Edmond Parks Foundation treasurer, John White, 6616 N. Olie Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73116.