Eight-foot statue of former president is the memorial's striking centerpiece

By Sandra Baker

sabaker@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH -- Erika Ludtke sat in the front row waiting patiently to see the work of her artist husband, the late Lawrence Ludtke, during Thursday's dedication of the JFK Tribute in downtown Fort Worth.

When 16 yards of deep blue velvet drape were removed from the 8-foot sculpture of John F. Kennedy, she wept quietly as Amy Bacon, a historian who is publishing a biography of her husband, put an arm around her and smiled. The crowd of several hundred people erupted into applause.

Ludtke's statue is the centerpiece of the JFK Tribute, which also include photographs and a water wall, at the site at 8th and Main streets across from the old Hotel Texas, now a Hilton, where President Kennedy spent his last night. On the morning of Nov. 22, 1963, Kennedy spoke to a crowd of thousands at the site before making his fateful trip to Dallas.

Mayor Betsy Price called the JFK Tribute "a lasting landmark" and an important link to Fort Worth's past and future.

"This isn't about the tragedy of Dallas," she said. "This is about his life. Fort Worth's story was almost forgotten. What a fitting tribute this is."

Joy Webster, chairwoman of Downtown Fort Worth Inc., officially donated the tribute, funded by private donations, to the city's public art program.

Local business and civic leaders spoke about Kennedy's visit, the great lengths taken to see the project through and humbly thanked the many donors who funded the $2 million project.

Shirlee Gandy, who co-chaired the JFK Tribute with her husband, Taylor Gandy, said the display tells a story of an important day in history. The couple also donated the money to buy the sculpture.

"This is more than a beautiful sculpture, granite walls and striking photos," Gandy said. "This is an opportunity to tell stories right here on Main Street, stories that if remembered will inspire generations of leaders to persevere though hardship, make sacrifices to achieve their goals and set lofty ambitions for their future. It will stand in this public place long after we are gone and echo President Kennedy's vision for the future."

Former Speaker of the House Jim Wright spoke about the joy that Kennedy and the First Lady brought to Fort Worth that morning, but the pain the nation suffered when Kennedy was slain in a motorcade in downtown Dallas a few hours later.

"So let us this morning be inspired by what has happened in the past and what lies ahead in the future," Wright said. "He was in inspiration to all. This tribute is a marvelous presentation."

A Kennedy family member was unable to attend Thursday's dedication. Andy Taft, president of Downtown Fort Worth Inc., read a letter from Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy, which she sent to the Gandys thanking them and the committee for their "extraordinary determination" to keep the late president's life alive.

"I'm touched that you and everyone involved in this project have worked to make sure my uncle's last days are remembered in a place where he was so warmly welcome," Townsend wrote. "President Kennedy appreciated all that Fort Worth had done to make the world free and democratic."

Following the unveiling, people crowded around the statue, waiting for a turn to take their picture next to it, including the 51-member Texas Boys choir, which sang Thursday. A Texas Boys Choir also sang at Kennedy's visit 49 years ago.

Erika Ludtke, too, stood in the crowd and waited her turn for a picture by the statue. "I didn't think it would ever be here," Ludtke said, adding that the last time she saw the statue was more than two years ago at the foundry in Santa Fe, where it was bronzed. Lawrence Ludtke died in 2007.

This would be the last public unveiling of one her husband's works.

Ludtke, who lives in Houston, said her husband's sculptures are so life-like, it was almost as if Kennedy was taking a step forward into the crowd.

Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727

Twitter: @SandraBakerFWST

Looking for comments?