Beetle Bailey, (sculpture).

Beetle Bailey, (sculpture).

Walker, Mort, 1923- , sculptor.

Walker, Neal, sculptor.

Beetle Bailey, (sculpture).

Dedicated Oct. 23, 1992. Relocated 1999.

Approx. 59 x 60 x 65 in. (1,100 lbs.).

An almost life-size sculpture of cartoon character Beetle Bailey depicted at a booth in the "The Shack," a once popular bar near the university. Beatle Bailey is seated on a bench with his arms resting on a well-worn table covered with carved initials. His chin rests in the palm of his proper right hand and his bent proper left leg rests up on the bench. A frothy glass of beer sits in front of him on the table.

Cartoon -- Comics -- Beetle Bailey

Recreation -- Leisure -- Eating & Drinking

Object -- Furniture -- Bench

Object -- Furniture -- Table

Object -- Foodstuff -- Beverage

Outdoor Sculpture -- Missouri -- Columbia

Administered by University of Missouri, Campus Facilities, General Services Building, 900 East Stadium, Columbia, Missouri 65211

Located Reynolds Alumni Center, Conley Avenue, Columbia, Missouri

Mort Walker, 1948 graduate of the University and creator of the cartoon strip character Beetle Bailey, was commissioned by University alumni to create the sculpture for the campus. Walker designed the sculpture and collaborated on the sculpting with his son, artist Neal Walker. The sculpture was financed by a $10,000 donation from Walker and matching funds from Joe D'Angelo of King Features. More than 120 University of Missouri alumni and friends also donated $250 each to have their initials or a short message etched in the table and bench where Beetle Bailey sits. The Shack, a favorite hangout spot for students, including Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker, went up in flames in 1988. IAS files contain an article from the Missouri Alumnus dated Spring 1993.

The sculpture was always intended for the Reynolds Alumni Center, but was temporarily installed in Pocket Park on the corner of Missouri and Conley avenues until 1999 when it was moved to a small park on the northeast corner of the alumni center.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Missouri survey, 1994.

Columbia Missourian, May 27, 1999.

Columbia Daily Tribune, June 4, 1999.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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