Rich memories of unassuming sculptor

The Deseret News article about the Pony Express, Sunday, June 6, should be discussed in every household. What a challenge for those young riders!

The photographs of the statue by Avard Fairbanks' "Pony Express Monument" certainly brought back memories to us.

In the summer of 1948-49, we ran a boarding house for male students while my husband was going to dental school in Seattle. One night after we had retired, there was a knock on our bedroom door. It was one of our summer boarders named Richard. He explained that his parents had come to visit but had no place to stay for the night. He asked if they could sleep on our extra bed in the basement. This was not much of a place to sleep as this was an old basement full of junk, but he said they would be comfortable there.

The next morning we met Richard's parents and apologized for the poor accommodations. They were so kind and appreciative. Richard was a very nice and quiet young student. We never knew who his father was until years later when we read about his sculptures.

So now we can claim that "Avard Fairbanks" slept in our humble basement!

Sid and Dona Le Henderson

Orem