Ohioans want Edison as U.S. Capitol statue

[Discman]

Just saw this in our local paper:

World-famous inventor Thomas Alva Edison of Milan is the winner of the popular vote to be the next Ohioan in National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.

Edison edged out the Wright Brothers of Dayton in statewide public voting that that began March 20 and concluded June 12. More than 37,000 people voted in the 10-way competition, the Ohio Historical Society said in making the announcement.

Edison received 12,132 votes, or 32.6 percent, followed by the Wright Brothers with 10,895 votes, or 29.2 percent. William M. McCullough, a former Ohio congressman involved in the early civil rights movement, was third with 3,569 votes, 9.6 percent. Ohio State University and Olympic star Jesse Owens finished a distant fourth with 3,128 votes, or 8.4 percent.

Of the total, 21,298 votes were cast by adults and 15,951 by students.

"The response to the popular vote was extraordinary," said Burt Logan, executive director and chief executive officer of the Historical Society. "Ohioans of all ages and from every region of the state took this opportunity to tell state legislators who they want to represent the state in National Statuary Hall."

The public vote is not binding on the National Statuary Collection Study Committee but will be the "greatest single factor" in the final decision, officials said.

Edison would join President James Garfield as Ohio representatives in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Edison's statue would replace that of William Allen, a 19th-century governor, who supported slavery.

Dave

[EdiBrunsVic]

That's great news and I hope Thomas Edison's statue gets added!

[Garret]

Update: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories ... tatue.html

[De Soto Frank]

Wonder if Michigan will be drumming for a statue of Henry Ford ?


I'm not opposed to TAE going into the US Capitol, also not sure he should win-out over the Wrights...

[Dave D]

Wonder if Michigan will be drumming for a statue of Henry Ford ?


I'm not opposed to TAE going into the US Capitol, also not sure he should win-out over the Wrights...

I suppose since TAE spent his childhood here in Michigan, maybe we could get a second statue of him there too! I grew about 4 blocks from where the Edison home was.
Dave D