I set out to create The Flagler Collection to celebrate, honor and remember the life and times of a visionary genius. While most men at the pinnacle of life would be content to continue to acquire greater wealth as a partner with John D. Rockefeller at Standard Oil, Flagler boldly looked to create a new direction for his life that would ultimately establish his own lasting legacy. Upon his return from a honeymoon visit to St. Augustine Florida in December 1883, Flagler set out to literally invent the State of Florida on a grand scale with a rail line and several major hotel constructions. Flagler was able to see his bold vision for Florida come to pass in his life time.

My time spent learning about Henry Flagler has been filled with wonderful moments of visionary inspiration. Prior to beginning my work with the Flagler sculptures I had the opportunity to visit St. Augustine and the Palm Beach areas as a result of a sculpture commission I received from the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in West Palm Beach in the spring of 2006. Over several visits I began to see the hand and vision of Henry Flagler in many places. I found the good name of Henry Morrison Flagler on a bridge that links West Palm Beach to Palm Beach. There is a major road way that runs along Lake Worth on the West Palm Beach side that bears his name. There are office buildings in his name. There is The Breakers Hotel, one of Flagler’s great creations that is still standing and thriving after 100 years of service! Just a short distance away from The Breakers I visited Whitehall, the palatial winter mansion that Flagler built that now houses the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum. I also catalogued all of the public sculpture in West Palm and Palm Beach and to my amazement I could not find a single sculptural tribute to Henry Flagler! This missing memorial fueled my passion to begin sculpting The Flagler Collection. With just five workable photographs of Flagler, I began to create a life size portrait bust. Upon its completion, the study continued with the conception and design of the Flagler Monument. To complete what I’m sure will be a growing collection; I sculpted a smaller trophy size bust.

The Henry Morrison Flagler Monument portrays Flagler holding a partially scrolled map of Palm Beach and the Lake Worth area in his left hand. The holding of this map is symbolic of Flagler’s original vision as the founding developer of West Palm and Palm Beach. Flagler stands tall and stately as he gazes out over the land and into the future. Flagler’s right hand confidently rests on his right hip. In the three sculptures that comprise the Flagler Collection, Flagler is portrayed in his mid 70’s. His vintage age represents the maturity and completeness of the Palm Beach area that has continued to grow to this day to become everything Flagler dreamed it could be. Flagler is dressed in his finest suit, a man of refinement, a classic man who commands attention. Upon its completion, the above life size solid bronze monument will stand 8 feet tall! Preliminary plans call for the monument to be mounted on a stone decorative base. Inscribed on the front of the monument is the simple inscription of his good name: FLAGLER.