New bronze bust of ‘UND founder’ George Walsh to be unveiled on campus Nov. 24

A nearly 1,500-pound pedestal and bronze bust of George Walsh, the man credited with writing the legislation to put UND in Grand Forks, was quietly installed this week on the campus quad near Twamley Hall.

Passersby will notice the new addition just outside the east doors of Twamley, the school’s main administrative building.

An informal unveiling took place Monday morning, with about two dozen UND staff and friends of the University on hand to witness it. They included the artist who created the bust, Heidi Hoy; George Walsh’s great-granddaughter, Jean Walsh-Page; and Vice President for Student Affairs, Robert Boyd.

An official ceremony and formal unveiling of the new bust will take place on Nov. 24, which is Walsh’s birthday.

The idea for the bust evolved through the 125th Anniversary Historic Preservation Committee, a body formed as part of UND’s recent 125th Anniversary celebration. The committee felt it important to recognize Walsh this way, as he – more than any other individual – is considered the founder of UND.

Walsh was also the editor and owner of the Plaindealer, the first newspaper in the Red River Valley, which was later bought out by the Grand Forks Herald. He went on to be a land developer. Walsh County is named in his honor, as is a UND student residence hall.

According to the history of UND at www.und.edu, Walsh submitted to the Dakota Territorial Legislature “A Bill for an Act Locating the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks…” It was the first time the term “North Dakota” was used, as statehood was not reached for another six years.

The committee of people that did the work and proposed the selection of the artist for the Walsh bust comprised: Boyd; Patrick Luber, UND professor of art and design; Greg Vettel, exhibition coordinator at the North Dakota Museum of Art; Peg O’Leary, of the Grand Forks Historical Preservation Committee; Paul Clark, UND Facilities; and Dawn Botsford and Fred Wittmann, UND ceremonies and special events.

Heidi Hoy, the sculptor, is from Mound, Minn. She has worked on other public art displays in Grand Forks, including the statue of Alexander Griggs at the Grand Forks County Courthouse.

— David L. Dodds, writer/editor, University Relations, 777-5529, daviddodds@mail.und.edu.