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Mural monument planned as tribute to Tom Kiplinger's legacy of charity
McCOOK, Neb. — When McCook cowboy and roper Tom Kiplinger died on July 29, 2017, he left behind a lifetime of adventures and lots of laughter and a legacy of charitable giving.
A close friend said, “There’s been no one before in this area who has ever been as charitable as Tom Kiplinger.”
For that unbounded generosity, a group of Tom’s friends wants to say, “Thank you, Tom.”
Because Tom was too humble in life to let anyone slap him on the back or shake his hand and say, “Thanks, Tom, for all you do,” his friends want to build a memorial tribute mural to say that for them.
In a fund drive to raise money for the memorial mural, friends of Tom say, “Because Tom Kiplinger gave so much to us, we want to say thanks, and we want to give everyone ever touched by Tom’s giving spirit the opportunity to join in a tribute to him. Help us tell him, ‘ … a life well-lived….Tommy. A life well-lived’.”
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Tom Kiplinger was responsible for the funding for the first Kiplinger Arena on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in McCook in 2003, and since then, for the Trudy and Alice arenas and their expansions, horse stalls and livestock handling equipment.
He created “The Tom and Alice Kiplinger Endowment Fund” that will take care of the Kiplinger complex on the fairgrounds into perpetuity.
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Tom Kiplinger’s friends will always remember his soft chuckle … his bashful grin … his great sense of humor.
Memories of Tom will always revolve around what he did with others … what he did for others. His life was filled with times spent with good friends and good horses. He loved his land and his cattle, and he loved to rope.
Friends are proposing an art installation that would thank him for his generosity and vision, and also become a landmark … a visitors’ photo opportunity … a destination of its own …
The mural art has been drawn by artist and retired Wesleyan University art professor Susan Horn. It will be translated into brick by muralist/artist Jay Tschetter of Denton. The mural shows Tom running down his rope to tie down a calf he roped in his pasture. In the background are his ranchland, his windmill and cattle. One of his beloved cats perches on a nearby fence post.
The artists estimate the mural will measure 10 feet high by 25 feet long. Its location on the fairgrounds isn’t “set in stone” yet.
The wall and several park benches will be lighted and landscaped. “It will be presented well, and look nice. This will stand alone … it will be a landmark,” said Charlie Collins, a close friend of Tom and one of several coordinators of the fund drive.
The entire project will cost about $100,000, for the mural, foundation, local bricklayer, lighting and landscaping. Collins said, “This isn’t going to happen overnight.”
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Fund drive organizers Lloyd Shields, Darren Dale, Carol Schlegel of Red Willow County Tourism and Collins will man a booth explaining the mural and accepting donations in the Merchants Building during the 2018 Red Willow County Fair in McCook July 25-29.
A vinyl sign will show Susan Horn’s rendition of Tom roping, and Jay Tschetter’s translation of Tom’s world into bricks.
Organizers encourage everyone to “think about Tom’s impact on your own life — how you can practice in his arenas, compete in them, watch the best competitors in them. Think about the people drawn to McCook from near and far. And then say ‘Thanks, Tom’ with your donation to help pay for the tribute mural.”
Donations to the fund drive can be mailed to “Tom Kiplinger Tribute Mural Project,” P.O. Box 876, McCook, NE 69001. All funds will be put into a specially-marked fund within the Red Willow County treasurer’s office. All donations will be tax deductible; the treasurer’s office will provide receipts when they’re requested.
Tom’s friends say, “Thank you.