Randolph Rose Artwork Dedicated at Pines Park

A statue honoring an Orphan Train rider was installed in memory of a longtime Concordia resident in the Concordia City Park on Saturday, April 29th.

The statue was installed in loving memory of longtime Concordia resident Betty Losh by her daughters, Melanie Lorenzo and Janeen James. Betty passed away in 2022 at the age of 84.  

In December 1980, Betty graduated from Kansas University with an accounting degree. She moved to Concordia, Kansas, to work with Kennedy & Coe as a certified public accountant until her retirement in 2002. Betty was a member of the Wesleyan Church and Standing Stones Sunday School Class and was active in church events, cooking many meals, filling and cleaning thousands of Easter eggs, making popcorn and serving drinks, and was a founding member of Wesleyan Ladies.

Community was important to Betty.  She volunteered for American Red Cross Blood drives, made pies for the Hospital Auxiliary, served as treasurer many years for the Cloud County Historical Society Museum, and worked local elections. Betty enjoyed traveling, playing and teaching bridge several times a week, golfing, all types of puzzles, gardening, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her friends and family.

The statue honors Orphan Train Rider Mary Ring, who was born to Michael Ring and Mary Geary in Walpole, Massachusetts in 1887. Two years later, in September 1889, her mother left her in the care of the New England Home for Little Wanderers.

In October 1889, she was aboard a train headed to Kokomo, Indiana. Mary Ring was taken in by James and Addie Blacklidge. James was a successful attorney, and the Blacklidges provided a good home for Mary, who adopted their last name as her own.

Mary had a love for music, and attended many social events and clubs as a young woman. She attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and Rockford College. She also traveled around the world with her parents in 1912. When they returned from their trip, Mary married Eldo Wagner. Eldo and Mary moved to Indianapolis, where they raised their three children.

Mary was very active in her church, volunteer groups, the PTA, scout groups, and educational clubs. She also served on the boards of various institutions, such as the Florence Crittenden Home for unwed Mothers, the Indianapolis School Board, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Mary lived a full life and died in 1981.

The 40th Orphan Train Rider statue in Cloud County was unveiled Friday, October 28th outside the new North Central Kansas Medical Center in Concordia.  The bronze statue, created by the Randolph Rose Collection in Yonkers, New York, honors riders Edward and Harold Panzer.

On April 23, 1918, Edward, Harold, Robert and Jack Panzer arrived at the Happy Valley School in Pomona, New York.  A year later, their youngest brother, George, joined them after their father's death.  In October 1922, all five boys were placed on an orphan train to Tekemah, Nebraska.

Edward Panzer was placed with Lester Lotz, who overworked him and did not allow him to attend school.  Eventually, Edward left the Lotz farm and returned to school, studying to become a doctor.  After graduating college, he attended a medical school in Lincoln, Nebraska, and finally graduated with his degree in medicine in June 1940.  When World War II broke out, Dr. Edward Panzer joined the Navy and served in the Pacific Theatre.  After the war, he settled in California where he worked as a doctor.

Harold Panzer was placed with Earl Babbett.  The Babbetts gave Harold a wonderful education; he attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska.  He graduated with his degree in medicine in June 1937.  Dr. Harold Panzer set up a practice in Ainsworth, Nebraska, and later built a hospital in Bassett, Nebraska, with his younger brother Jack.  Harold also acquired a pilot's license and a small plane.  On one occasion, a farmer was seriously injured in a hay baler accident.  Harold did what he could for the man at his hospital, and then flew him to Omaha, 250 miles away.

Both Edward and Harold were wonderful examples of courage, fortitude and determination, and served their patients well.

The statue at the North Central Kansas Medical Center is sponsored by the family of Dr. Wayne Fowler, Sr.

Over the summer, the Hampton Alumni Remembrance Garden Committee completed Phase II of the Remembrance Garden project at Hampton High School. This project included the installation of a bronze statue of a white Labrador, representing the beloved Talbot dog. The new addition now stands alongside the "Fly Away" memorial statue, which depicts a little girl setting a bird free with her hands raised in the air.

During a School Board meeting in August 2022, Mr. Scott Docherty (Class of 1974) presented the visionary plans for Phase II of the Remembrance Garden project. Mr. Docherty's class holds the distinction of being the first to attend all four years at the newly-built Hampton High School. In his presentation, Mr. Docherty expressed the significance of the Talbot dog in the community's history.

“The Talbot dog was all white … a hardworking hunting dog,” said Mr. Docherty. “It was loyal, gentle, kind, and high spirited. There’s a dog that fits that exact image right now, and that is a white Lab.”

HTSD extends its profound gratitude to the Hampton Alumni Remembrance Garden Committee for generously funding this project and for their commitment to maintaining the beauty of the garden outside Hampton High School. The garden was originally dedicated in July 2014, and with the recent addition of the white Lab statue, it continues to serve as a space for remembrance and reflection.

The class of 1974 received approval from the Hampton Township School Board to plan and install a Class of 1974 Memorial Statue at the Hampton High School.

Representatives from the class appeared before the Board in early November 2013, seeking approval to place a memorial to the classmates they have lost over the years somewhere on District property, preferably at the High School. Scott Docherty, a 1974 graduate, represented his class in asking the Board for permission to establish the memorial. The Class of 1974 was the first class to attend all four years at the newly-built High School.

Mr. Docherty told Board members that his classmates already had raised $4,000, which was enough to purchase and install a memorial statue. The statue, called “Fly Away,” depicts a little girl with her hands up in the air prepared to set a bird free that she is holding.

“This statue symbolizes that we had to let go of our deceased classmates,” Mr. Docherty said. “But the girl has a happy face, which represents the good memories of the time spent in Hampton’s esteemed halls that we shared with those who are now gone.”

Mr. Docherty said they intend to seek donations and participation from other graduating classes at Hampton who wish to add to the memorial. He said alumni who have been part of the initial plan thus far envision creating an entire memorial garden, with new pieces being added each year as monies are raised to pay for it.

Board members thanked the Class of 1974 for its commitment and dedication to the project. The Board also decided to form a Hampton Alumni Remembrance Garden Committee to help establish parameters for future donations, projects and funding. Part of the committee’s duties will be to establish a trust fund for donations raised to pay for future maintenance or additions to the memorial.

The garden was officially dedicated - and the first two items placed there - on July 12, 2014.