Sept. 4, 2004
Learn more about Herky on Parade Bid on Throwback Herky Read about the Diamond Collection Which of the original 75 Herkys in the Herky on Parade program is tops among fans of Iowa’s longest running parade? We now know. The UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau will announce at halftime of Saturday’s (Sept. 4) “Throwback Game” between the nationally ranked Iowa Hawkeyes and Kent State at historic Kinnick Stadium that the Herky named, “Reflections of U” and created by artist Kim O’Meara of Iowa City finished No. 1 in the online Fans’ Choice Award voting on the web site, herkyonparade.com.
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“Reflections of U” features hundreds of pieces of glass permanently affixed to the 7-foot-high fiberglass replica of Iowa’s mascot, Herky. It is one of the original 75 statues in the Herky on Parade program and is currently on display on the northern edge of the University of Iowa’s Pentacrest.
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“Reflections of U” features hundreds of pieces of glass permanently affixed to the 7-foot-high fiberglass replica of Iowa’s mascot, Herky. It is one of the original 75 statues in the Herky on Parade program and is currently on display on the northern edge of the University of Iowa’s Pentacrest. “Reflections” was commissioned by the University of Iowa Alumni Association and it finished ahead of finalists “Captain Ameriky,” created by Jeff Westrom and Jeremy VanHoeck of Cedar Rapids for the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival and “Hayden Herky,” a Herky dressed like Iowa’s Hall of Fame head football coach, Hayden Fry. “Hayden” was the creation of Sara Slee Brown of Iowa City. It was commissioned by Iowa City Ready-Mix. “Captain Ameriky” and “Hayden Herky” are both currently on display inside Coral Ridge Mall. “It was a photo finish, we had three super Herkys reaching the finals. As far as the committee is concerned, all 75 of the Herkys are champions as are the artists of each. They are the real heroes of the Herky on Parade program,” said Rick Klatt, associate athletic director for external affairs. The announcement of the winner of the Fans’ Choice Award comes fast on the heels of the installation of the “Diamond Collection” Herkys – 15 new statues now available for public viewing in locations near historic Kinnick Stadium. “The Diamond Collection is incredible..but, then again, so are all of the orignal 75 Herkys. It’s incredibly fun now, however, to have Herky on Parade happening right where the action is on game days. Fans of the Hawkeyes are going to love ’em,” said Josh Schamberger, president of the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau.