From The Mountain

West Virginia's traditions and culture shaped Burl Jones into one of the country's most respected bronze sculptors. Born near Charleston, he excelled in academics and athletics, attended West Virginia University on a football scholarship, and graduated summa cum laude from the School of Dentistry in 1966. After twenty-five years in dentistry, he turned his focus entirely to sculpture and produced more than 200 original limited-edition works, including wildlife, mountain men, Native Americans, fishermen, and hunters, sold to collectors worldwide. Jones devoted a year to creating From the Mountain, a fourteen-foot-tall bronze statue at Statler Wilson Commons, home of the Erickson Alumni Center and Lane Park. The work showcases the rich history of West Virginia University with a mountain and five life-size figures symbolizing different aspects of the university's heritage, topped by a Mountaineer representing the WVU mascot through history. The statue was provided by Verl O. Purdy, a Poca native, distinguished alumnus, volunteer, benefactor, and chairman of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors, whose gift enhanced the Erickson Alumni Center. The story of Purdy and Jones joined two West Virginia men who first met as football opponents from Poca and Sissonville high schools.

Morgantown, West Virginia · United States