Sculpture to Honor Late UW Employee

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — A group is working to remember a late University of Wyoming employee who tended to the gardens on campus.

The "Friends of Tommy" committee formed shortly after Tommy Thompson died in 2010 at the age of 72.

Thompson was employed by the university from 1960 to 1993.

This fall, "Friends of Tommy" hopes to place a bronze sculpture of Thompson in the flower gardens south of Merica Hall if they can raise the money to complete the project. They have raised about 75 percent of the $40,000 cost.

The sculpture is a creation by Wyoming artist Vince Valdez.

Pennie Espeland of the group tells the Associated Press that it's important to honor people like Thompson who give much more to campus than they ever really get recognized for.