A bronze Phoenix sculpture was secured atop the bell tower at the North Athletics Complex Aug. 9. Details and photographs...
The sculpture, measuring 43 inches high and 36 inches wide, was created by artist Jon Hair of Cornelius, N.C. Hair is currently working on “Phoenix Rising,” a larger version of the sculpture, which will be mounted on a brick pedestal at the entrance to the athletics complex in the fall. Both sculptures were funded by a gift from Irwin Belk, a Charlotte, N.C., businessman and philanthropist.
Workers from two Asheboro, N.C., companies used a lift to move the sculpture into place on the copper dome at the top of the bell tower, located outside the entrance to Rhodes Stadium. Scott Rich, a superintendent with J.H. Allen, Inc. general contractors, and Tom Dunning, a subcontractor with McRae Roofing, drilled a hole in the copper dome. The sculpture is mounted on an 18-inch rod, which is anchored in wooden studs that support the dome.
Irwin Belk has had a lifelong interest in athletics and served on the United States Olympic Committee for more than 30 years. He and his wife, Carol Grotnes Belk, have made several gifts to Elon. In 1999, the new library was named in honor of Mrs. Belk, after the couple made a major gift to the Campaign for the Elon Vision.