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The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:14 am
by Bob Of Burleson
Angels have taken
their rightful place
on new courts building
By Bob Ray Sanders
bobray@star-telegram.com
The other day I stood in the morning shadow of Tarrant County’s newest courthouse and pleaded guilty.
As I looked at the exterior of the still-not-completed Civil Courts Building, with the scales of justice prominently in view, I had to take responsibility for my part in what some considered a serious offense just a few years ago.
I did so without remorse. After all, I had angels looking down on me.
The new courts building, under construction at 100 N. Calhoun St., will replace the civil courts structure that was built in 1958 as an annex to the historic Tarrant County Courthouse, a project that included demolishing the west portal of the iconic 1895 building.
The old Civil Courts Building would eventually become known as the ugliest construction in town, especially after a painted mock exterior was added in the 1980s.
After passage of a bond issue to build a new campus to house civil courts, Tarrant County commissioners decided in 2007 that the old building would be razed and the beloved historic courthouse would be restored to its original design with a reconstructed west portal.
What most officials didn’t realize, or didn’t remember, at the time was that there were four giant sculptures — four-story-tall “Angels of Justice” — attached to the old building, two each on the east and west sides. Each identical figure, with wings stretched skyward, held the scales of justice.
As a child, I saw those angels as the very symbol of justice, even in a day when equal opportunity, including in the courthouse, was elusive to many residents of Tarrant County.
Once the possible destruction of these sculptures was called to the attention of county officials through this column and readers raised their concerns, there was a concerted effort to save the angels.
Read the rest of the column here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/07/08 ... rylink=cpy
Re: The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:42 am
by Red Oak
May be they will take a whiz on him too
Re: The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:56 am
by GFB
I have no idea what this is about..but I do need help taking people seriously with 2 first names.
Re: The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 2:31 pm
by LibraryLady
GFB wrote:I have no idea what this is about..but I do need help taking people seriously with 2 first names.
You would find it difficult to live in the south, where many of the people are known by 2 first names.
Re: The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 2:56 pm
by GFB
LibraryLady wrote:GFB wrote:I have no idea what this is about..but I do need help taking people seriously with 2 first names.
You would find it difficult to live in the south, where many of the people are known by 2 first names.
I don't have a problem with using your first and middle name as if they are one.
It's when the last name is just another one syllable first name...that's just wrong.
How can we fix that?
Re: The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 3:23 pm
by crackertoes
GFB wrote:LibraryLady wrote:GFB wrote:I have no idea what this is about..but I do need help taking people seriously with 2 first names.
You would find it difficult to live in the south, where many of the people are known by 2 first names.
I don't have a problem with using your first and middle name as if they are one.
It's when the last name is just another one syllable first name...that's just wrong.
How can we fix that?
Easy....
1. Get over it.
2. Don't move to the South.
3. Give your own kids polysyllabic unpronounceable neo-European names.
Or realize there's nothing to be fixed (see #1).
Re: The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 3:31 pm
by crocmommy
This may be a dumb question, but what was the "serious offense" that Bob Ray is referring to?
Re: The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 3:34 pm
by jellowrestling
GFB wrote:LibraryLady wrote:GFB wrote:I have no idea what this is about..but I do need help taking people seriously with 2 first names.
You would find it difficult to live in the south, where many of the people are known by 2 first names.
I don't have a problem with using your first and middle name as if they are one.
It's when the last name is just another one syllable first name...that's just wrong.
How can we fix that?
His name is Bob Ray Sanders
Re: The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:26 pm
by GFB
jellowrestling wrote:
His name is Bob Ray Sanders
Oh, ok..that's still a bit awkward..but an improvement!!
Re: The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:27 pm
by Dancer
crocmommy wrote:This may be a dumb question, but what was the "serious offense" that Bob Ray is referring to?
Peeing In Public?
Re: The angels are gazing down at Bob Ray
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:51 pm
by Bob Of Burleson
The "serious offense":
(From the column)
I insisted that they ought to be incorporated into another county facility, preferably the new Civil Courts Building.
This was not a welcome suggestion to those charged with designing and constructing the new building. Among other things, they raised doubt that the carvings, each made up of 10 2,000- to 3,000-pound panels, could be removed without severe damage. They were also concerned about the cost of dismantling and reassembly.
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/07/08 ... rylink=cpy