Button Salmon - Tucson, Arizona
Posted by: 
Max and 99
N 32° 13.785 W 110° 56.783
12S E 505051 N 3565903
Bust of University of Arizona student and athlete John Button Salmon, who died following a car accident.
Waymark Code: WM94ZH
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 06/29/2010
Views: 12
This bust of legendary student John Button Salmon is located in front of the ticket office and spirit store on the UA campus, and just NE of the football stadium. The bust is mounted on a tall base, and is easily seen from the street. It is located in a landscaped area by the sidewalk leading to the facility. The University of Arizona song is based on John's remarks to the coach as he lay dying.
From the Smithsonian art database:
Description:
A bust of John Button Salmon wearing football shoulder pads. His full, wavy hair falls into rope-like strands. He wears a slight smile and has a strong, wrinkled brow. The bust is mounted on a piece of metal that joins it to a rectangular base.
Inscription:
D. Haskin (On lower left shoulder of bust:) Desert Crucible Foundry 1986 (On front of base, incised letters:) TELL THEM./TELL THE TEAM/TO/BEAR DOWN./JOHN BUTTON SALMON/1904 - 1926/IN HONOR OF ALL/WILDCAT LETTERWINNERS (On right side of base:) BEAR DOWN signed Founder's mark appears.
Dimensions:
Bust: approx. 29 x 35 x 18 in.; Base: approx. 62 x 43 x 43 in.
Remarks:
The bust portrait of John "Button" Salmon, a former University of Arizona student, was created in honor of all Arizona Wildcat letterwinners. Nearby plaque on southwest side of sculpture reads: "Bear Down" In October 1926, John "Button" Solmon(sic), University of Arizona's student body president, football quarterback and baseball catcher, was fatally injured in an automobile accident. His last words spoken to coach J.F. "Pop" McKale were: "Tell them...Tell the team to bear down." A University memorial service was held for Button and was followed by a funeral procession almost three miles long. A year later the student body voted to make "Bear Down" the official slogan of the U of A athletic teams, and the words were painted on the roof of the new U of A gymnasium which soon became known as Bear Down Gym. In 1952, band director Jack Lee observed Button's rooftop message from an airplane and was inspired to write the music and lyrics to "Bear Down Arizona", which shortly thereafter was adopted as the University of Arizona's fight song.
TITLE: Button Salmon
ARTIST(S): Haskin, Donald Marcus, 1920- , sculptor. Desert Crucible Foundry, founder.
DATE: Cast 1986.
MEDIUM: Bust: bronze; Base: possibly marble.
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS AZ000567
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
University of Arizona, corner of Warren Dr. and Enke Dr.
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
none
|
Visit Instructions:
Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.