Thursday, September 04, 2003

WILMINGTON, NC - The University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s bronze seahawk statue, which was stolen in July from its granite base in front of the Warwick Center, was placed back on its perch Thursday, Sept. 4.

The work was completed by artist Dumay Gorham, III, a native of Wilmington. His metal work appears in businesses throughout the area including downtown bicycle racks. Gorham also created large steel jellyfish for the lobby of the UNCW Center for Marine Science.

To support the return of the university’s mascot some of the UNCW Screamin’ Seahawk spirit club members were on hand as the seahawk was returned to its home.

David Gessner, a creative writing department faculty member and author of Return of the Osprey: A Season of Flight and Wonder, was at the reinstallation to observe the return of the seahawk.

“My book concerns the majesty and athleticism of the osprey, or seahawk, the only raptor to live by diving for live fish. As mascots go, UNCW could not have picked a better one,” said Gessner. “In my book I quote the ornithologist George Waterson, "...surely Nature in the course of evolution has not fashioned anything quite so superb in every way as the osprey."

The person who removed the Seahawk has yet to be caught. The office of the chancellor is offering a reward of $250 for information that identifies the person responsible.

The bronze mascot seahawk is valued at $70,000. The cost of the reinstallation was approximately $500. This includes reinforcements within each leg to help prevent future theft. None of the repair costs were covered by insurance