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The Duane Zemper Legacy Monument Unveiling and Dedication Ceremony
Sunday, November 4 in Howell, Michigan
Howell, MI – A larger-than-life bronze sculpture of Duane Zemper will be unveiled Sunday, November 4, 1 PM at the Howell Carnegie District Library, 314 W. Grand River Avenue in Downtown Howell.
Commemorating the accomplishments and contributions of the local hero and icon Duane Zemper, the day’s festivities are the culmination of two and a half years of vision and community involvement spearheaded by a collaboration of Howell Rotary, Howell Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and the Howell Carnegie District Library.
Everyone is encouraged to attend.
Acknowledgements for the dozens of businesses, community members and organizations whose generosity brought this project to life will be followed by the official unveiling by local dignitaries and Mr. Zemper’s family. The ceremony, on the library lawn, will include lively storytelling and fun activities for all ages.
A reception at the Howell Opera House will follow, featuring the Emmy-award-winning documentary, “Through the Lens of Duane Zemper” with cake and refreshments to celebrate what would have been Mr. Zemper’s 99th birthday.
Internationally-renowned sculpting team Colin and Kristine Poole of Santa Fe, New Mexico, will be present for the event and will debut their short film, “The Making of The Zemp Legacy Monument,” documenting the process of creating this monumental bronze sculpture from conception to completion. They will be available for a “meet the artist” session at the Opera House. INSERT VIDEO INFO
The Duane Zemper Legacy Monument Dedication Ceremony begins at 1 PM, Sunday, November 4 at the Howell Carnegie District Library in Howell. Reception to follow the dedication at the Howell Opera House from 2 – 4 PM. All festivities are open to the public.
For more information or high-res images, please call (517) 404-9119 or email mhall@cobbhall.com.
Additional information on the life and accomplishments of Duane Zemper can be found at www.zemplegacy.org.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON DUANE ZEMPER FOLLOWS:
Duane Zemper would have celebrated his 99th birthday on the day of the unveiling. After a distinguished, yet humble, life he passed away in July of 2016.
He was a World War II hero, a distinguished athlete, an honored photographer, an historian, a mentor for many students, lifelong Rotarian and one of the founders of the Howell Archives. Mr. Zemper is responsible for finding, preserving and duplicating long-lost photographs of Howell’s early years. Most of the historic photographs of Howell displayed in publications and in businesses and restaurants are the result of this work.
“Zemp knew the importance of preserving history for future generations,” said Mike Hall, chairman of the Duane Zemper Legacy Project, a collaboration between the Howell Rotary, the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and the Howell Carnegie District Library.
“The bronze statue is a culmination of two and a half years of planning and fundraising by the Duane Zemper Legacy Project,” said Hall. “Contributions from dozens of businesses, community organizations and community members made the statue a reality and we are so excited to place it in downtown Howell on the library lawn, a place that Zemp loved. Art is vital to the health of any community and with this important sculpture, our City is enhanced and Duane’s legacy will live on for future generations.”
The seven-foot tall statue of Mr. Zemper realistically depicts him later in life with his camera, books, his signature bolo tie, a Rotary pin and other mementos so important to him.
“Anyone who knew Duane—and so much of the community did—will immediately recognize him in the statue,” said Hall.
“His athletic achievements as a cross-country runner in high school and at Eastern Michigan University (then Michigan Normal School) made him a top athlete in the state and kindled his love and ongoing support of high school sporting events,” said Brent Earl, a close friend of Duane Zemper and member of the Legacy Project.
He and two other college teammates would have qualified for the 1940 Olympics, but the nation was engulfed in war. He was inducted into the Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
After joining the war effort, the U.S. Army sent him to Yale University to study photography. Always the athlete, he set the world record for sit-ups while at Yale: 3,450 in three hours and 42 minutes. He only stopped because he had to go to class.
As the commanding officer of a Photo Intelligence Unit of the 457 Bomb Group, his amazing photographic work from the open bomb doors of B-17s helped win the war for the Allies.
After the war, Mr. Zemper moved to Howell, the hometown of his wife Tillie, and opened a photography studio. Thousands of area residents and hundreds of Howell sports teams were photographed by ‘Zemp.’
He joined the Howell Rotary, participating in dozens of projects for the betterment of the community. He was proud of his more than 65 years of perfect Rotary attendance.
He was named Howell Citizen of the Year in 1976 by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce and received numerous national and state photography awards during his career.
Contact: Mike Hall
(517) 404-9119
mhall@cobbhall.com