MONTICELLO, Ark. — The University of Arkansas at Monticello Department of Athletics unveiled two new Boll Weevil statues that will serve as lasting symbols of Weevil pride and tradition.
The first statue, a striking five-foot-tall bronze Boll Weevil, stands just outside the front of the Judy and Jack Lassiter Indoor Practice Facility. The second, a smaller Boll Weevil perched atop a concrete pedestal, is located on the northeast side of Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium. The base of this statue proudly lists the names of every UAM football senior since Head Coach Hud Jackson‘s first season in 2011. The statue is passed by the team at every home game, serving as a tribute to the legacy of student-athletes who have shaped the program.
“We are so excited about the generous donation from the Owen family for our one-of-a-kind Boll Weevil statue,” said Coach Jackson. “It definitely brings a new tradition to our athletics department.”
The statue project was made possible by the generosity of the Owen Family, whose support and vision brought the idea to life.
“Hud originally mentioned his vision of a boll weevil statue to us,” said Mr. Wayne Owen. “Once the conversation began, we fell in love with the idea and wanted to help make it happen.”
Both statues were created to reflect the bold, resilient identity of UAM Athletics. The larger statue serves as a welcoming figure, representing the school mascot, at one of the most frequented facilities by UAM’s student-athletes. In comparison, the smaller statue at the stadium symbolizes the culture built throughout the new era of the football program’s history.
“It was a long process that turned out to be something really special,” added Jackson.
The unveiling marks another step in the Athletics mission at UAM to elevate the student-athlete experience, growing the university’s connection with its alumni and supporters.
