Located in front of the Learning Resource Center on the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) campus is a sculpture titled
Lakeside Manner by artist Del Hodges and completed on 2/19/1982. It is a tall, welded steel sculpture of a flock of Canadian geese taking flight. Canadian geese are a frequent sight in Klamath Falls and this sculpture depicts a typical scene that one might see near Klamath Lake or Lake Ewauna.
In doing a little online research on the artist I discovered that he passed away in 1999 and located an obituary for him here that reads:
Delbert "Del" Hodges
Delbert "Del" Lloyd Hodges, 59, of Eddyville (LINCOLN CO.) died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis on Dec. 14, 1999.
He was born in Toledo on June 14, 1940 to George and Genevia Truitt-Hodges.
He graduated from high school in 1958 and attended Oregon State University, Corvallis; he studied fine arts at a school in Hollywood, Calif., and finished his master of fine arts degree at OSU.
His artwork is exhibited throughout the world, his most well-known pieces are the doe and fawn sculpture in front of the Salem Library, and the flock of geese sculpture at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls. He sculpted many owls, eagles and other wildlife.
He enjoyed hunting and art work. He was able to do many kinds of art, including painting and metal work.
Survivors include his daughters, Heather Carmichael of Eddyville and Ventura Guardino of Newport; a son, Alex Hodges of Gladstone; a brother, Wayne Hodges of Eddyville; his aunt and uncle, Florine and Winston McHenry of Kansas; his fiancee, Leonora Alutoya of the Philippines; and numerous cousins.
Visitation will be held today (Friday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bateman Funeral Home in Newport. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bateman Funeral Home in Newport.
Contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the Hepatitis Foundation. Bateman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
I was also able to locate an older picture of the doe and fawn sculpture from 1975 and mentioned in the obituary that is located in front of the Salem Public Library and can be visited here.