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PEORIA, Ill., Aug 24, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A 4-foot-tall model of a proposed statue of Richard Pryor was unveiled this week in the comedian's hometown of Peoria, Ill.
Preston Jackson on Wednesday revealed his small-scale version of the comedian, which represented his first attempt at a model for a proposed honorary statue of its native son outside of its African-American Hall of Fame Museum, said the Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star.
"The sculpture will be refined again and again before I decide it fits Pryor's style," said Jackson of his bronze statue.
The museum's president, Howard Johnson, said that through the museum and by embracing the Illinois city's most famous native son with the statue, Peoria's community may become revitalized, the newspaper reported.
Yet with only $12,000 raised for the proposed 9-foot $150,000 statue, the prospect of such revitalization would seem to be on hold unless the model brings in additional donations, the paper said.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
