Kale Powell statue being restored; looking for new home

It was a random act of kindness a few years ago when a sculptor spoke with Guthrie head football coach Rafe Watkins about a tribute to a high school football player. Now the statue, carved out of a tree, of Kale Powell will be looking for a new home.

The Kale Powell statue carved out of a tree is currently being restored.

At the intersection of Industrial and Division, as land was being developed the sculptor wanted to use a tree at the northeast corner of the intersection for a memorial type structure. After speaking with Watkins on a few ideas, the designer began to cut and carve out No. 9 of the 2005 BlueJays.

Now the larger than life wood statue, of the past quarterback making a throw down field, has been taken down and is in the process of being refurbished in a downtown building by his grandmother.

It is unsure where the statue will be placed, although his parents, Doug and Nancy Powell, have some ideas where they would like to see the statue. Many have shared the thought of having it inside Jelsma Stadium so that it can be seen for both football and baseball seasons.

Kale Powell was 16 years old when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a blood cancer.

A broken bone in the Homecoming football game in 2005 was how the family found the disease. Kale literally went from the playing field to the children’s cancer ward the same night.

He entered the hospital for the last time four days after graduating in May of 2006. He died July 6, 2006 at the age of 18.

Kale Powell
1988-2006

The family was very proud of how Kale handled the difficulties that he was dealt and how he began his journey with his head held high. Kale insisted that his treatments and bone marrow transplants be scheduled around graduation.

The family is very passionate about keeping Kale’s memory alive. Along with the statue, the family holds an annual golf event that awards scholarships each year to GHS seniors.

The scholarships recognize special young men and women who have shown Mental Toughness and given Xtra Effort to accomplish their goals in life. Those individuals, who understand, like Kale did, what it means to “Live for the moment, not tomorrow, or next week. Live for this moment.”