Where is the Molly Ivins Memorial?

Molly Ivins (3.50 / 4)

(may she rest in peace) should have a beautiful statue on the front porch (maybe the front lawn) of the governor's mansion (after it's rebuilt) and it should be inscribed with her words:

"In Texas, we do not hold high expectations for the [governor's] office; it's mostly been occupied by crooks, dorks and the comatose." ~ Molly Ivins

---

by: Elsbeth @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 01:46:46 AM UTC

Fantastic suggestion! (3.00 / 1)

Sadly, I think Governor Goodhair (as she dubbed him) would somehow manage to put a stop to that.  But I do think Molly would want to be somewhere where she wasn't wanted; where she was ruffling feathers by her very presence.  Maybe such a statue could be built across the street from the Governor's mansion.

In honor of your brilliant suggestion, you have been selected to join the  Molly Ivins Memorial Ideas Committee (MIMIC).  OK, so the committee only has one member (me) but I'm really serious about wanting to make sure Molly gets honored in a timely and befitting fashion.

---

by: boo @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 02:10:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you! (3.00 / 1)

I'm honored to be selected! :-)

---

by: Elsbeth @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 02:18:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

But where? (3.00 / 1)

Dear MIMIC Committee,

She was wanted in the Capitol by those that knew and love her and her politics.  With the current state of affairs, I would suggest our friends at TTLA or AFLCIO allow us to pay tribute with a bronze statute of her facing the west side of the Capitol. Once we get the majority again, we'll fittingly move her to the Capitol grounds where she loved to be, maybe by the confederate monument. She'll be able to ruffle feathers there for the duration of our statehood.

Her fitting tribute (see 3:00 mark)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

---

by: txlonghorn_02 @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:20:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Gee.. (0.00 / 0)

In light of that video, I think if there is a statue, it should be a statue of Molly, sitting on a cow, on top of a building, wearing cowboy boots.

---

by: boo @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 14:03:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Full Circle (3.00 / 2)

I like this thread.

There is a very simple memorial in Boston in Christopher Columbus Park that is basically just a big circle, with the edges of it turned into concrete benches with inscriptions on them.  The memorial is there in honor of nine Marines from MA who died in Beirut in 1983.

What makes it a noteworthy place is that in the very center, there is some sort of metal divot where you can stand and your voice sounds like you suddenly turned on a microphone with a PA system.  No one else but you can hear the difference in your voice and if you step off of the middle circle, your voice sounds normal again.

I have no idea how they did it or if it was created that way on purpose but it seems symbolic to have a circle where your voice is amplified when you stand in the middle, and benches for progressive writers and thinkers to sit around on sunny days (and warm nights).

There's a picture here of what it looks like in the park, and another one (of me standing in the middle) closer up here.

Not saying it has to be exactly the same, but I think a physical place to sit and reflect would be more meaningful than a street sign or even just a statue of her perched serenely on the side of Lady Bird Lake.  She wanted us to sustain our outrage, after all.

Just a thought.  

---

by: MeanRachel @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 05:51:10 AM UTC

The MOLLY (3.00 / 1)

The Texas Observer already has an annual journalism award known as The MOLLY.  

The awards for this year have already happened.

http://www.texasobserver.org/e...
http://www.cleveland.com/news/...

In addition, the Texas Observer was selling DVDs of the first MOLLY award dinner where Molly Ivins was the recipient.  Aside from the prize money, I believe the winner also receives a statuette of Molly Ivins (at least that's what Molly got at the first awards).

---

by: SADem @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:26:58 AM UTC

Thanks, SA Dem, I was going to say the same thing (3.00 / 1)

Statues and memorials are nice, but rewarding the good works and keeping the spirit going, I think, is an even better tribute.

I sorely miss Molly's (and Hunter Thompson's) voice, but recognizing journalists who work on important stories and fight injustice is the way I think she'd like being remembered.

That, and we should take to the streets and bang loudly on our pots and pans if Gee Duhbya does, in fact, bomb Iran.

---

by: carmelita @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 12:21:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No reason we can't have both. (3.00 / 1)

But if a statue is too dry, maybe, next to the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, there should be the Molly Ivins School for Young Women Journalists and Gadflies--to keep those young women leaders honest and on their toes.

---

by: boo @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 14:11:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Close but... (0.00 / 0)

The winner got a nice check and, very appropriately, an inscribed beer stein.

The winner, whose name escapes me, started off her thank you speech by saying she wasn't as funny as Molly and then proceeded to floor the room with her incredible, deadpan delivery.  She got a roaring applause, thanks in part to the pots attendees banged at their tables.

By the way, I vote for the library idea mentioned below.

---

by: Bigfoot @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 15:00:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What kind of Memorial Does Molly Deserve? (4.50 / 4)

Why not the obvious?  She was a brilliant writer.  Why not a library?

---

by: FeministsRFun @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 13:10:14 PM UTC

I like the library idea (3.67 / 3)

How about naming the Legislative Library in the Capitol after her? That library contains records of all hearings and legislative history on all bills. That is where you can research the true legislative intent of all bills.

---

by: susanc @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 14:17:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah (0.00 / 0)

A library seems like the way to go.  The new central library will need a name.

---

by: Jeb @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 15:33:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What Kind of Memorial Does Molly Deserve? (0.00 / 0)

She was a brilliant writer.  Why not the obvious?  Why not a library?

---

by: FeministsRFun @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 13:12:54 PM UTC

Memorials (4.00 / 2)

I personally voted for a statue near the Lady Bird Lake - for Molly Ivins.

This reminds me that we need some major facility in Dallas County named for Ann Richards.  Since she lived at two addresses on Lovers Lane, I think it would be appropriate to rename this street "Ann Richards Boulevard."

She was also active in the P-T/A at the University Park Elementary School, on Lovers Lane.  Since we have a "Barbara Bush Middle School" here, and a "Barbara Hitzelberger Park" (both for living persons), maybe it would be appropriate to re-name this as the "Ann Richards Elementary School," and place a statue out in front.  

BTW, the last time I spoke with Molly Ivins was at the funeral for Billie Carr.  It seems something should be named for Billie, as well.  

---

by: Tom Blackwell @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 13:32:13 PM UTC

I would love to see a memorial near the capitol (3.00 / 1)

That's going to be tough with the current crew at the Lege.  We would have a better chance of getting one near Lady Bird Lake.

Her friends in her neighborhood and around Texas did raise some money to buy a park bench near Big Stacy Park which was dedicated on April 25th.  Molly used to live nearby.

You can never have too much Molly appreciation, so another tribute is definitely in order.  

---

by: sonia @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 13:51:21 PM UTC

That's very sweet...I'll have to go visit it. (3.00 / 1)

But I agree that you can never have too much Molly appreciation.  
I didn't know Molly personally, but I loved her, and she inspired me, and I sorely miss her voice.  That's why I think she needs something, well, monumental--not just from those who knew her intimately, but also from the community at large, to show her and the world how much she meant to all of us.

---

by: boo @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 14:27:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A portrait in the House Gallery (3.00 / 1)

Especially if it looks like she's watching the mayhem with that singular smile.  Much as I hate animatronics, it would be a hoot if they could put in a recording of her laughing.  Press the button every time a bad bill comes up, and her laugh will echo through the chambers...

Disclosure: Former Political Director for Lee Leffingwell for Mayor of Austin ('09)

---

by: sccs @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 14:20:52 PM UTC

<b>near the three philosophers</b> (3.00 / 1)

a statue on (or near) lady bird lake is the best of the options.

specifically, next to or nearby the three philosophers at barton springs pool.

---

by: leslie pool @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 18:25:46 PM UTC

You are ALL invited to be a part of MIMIC! (5.00 / 1)

These are all great ideas...Keep the suggestions coming!

My nieces, ages 6 and 8, recently visited me in Austin for the first time.  When they arrived, I took them to stand in front of the Barbara Jordan statue and told them that all visitors had to stand before Jordan's glare of judgement and if she deemed them worthy, they were allowed to leave the airport.  We went to Lady Bird Lake, and I told them about her contributions to environmentalism.  I told them about Ann Richards and the Ann Richards bridge.  Then because they'd heard the story from me when I was in Chicago, they asked to see the statue of the woman who foiled Sam Houston and the Texas Rangers by firing off the cannon in the middle of the night.  Someday I'd like to take them to the Molly Ivins statue, plaza, library, etc.  

With all these great iconoclastic Texas women honored around Austin, it almost makes up for the complete absence of women honored on the UT campus (at least in the statuary).

The next question is, how do we make it happen? I guess, once we have some concrete ideas, it would be time to enlist her high-powered friends and admirers: The Texas Observer, Jim Hightower...who else?  I really just want to get the ball rolling and make sure she gets the recognition she deserves.

I like the idea of naming the new Central Library after her, but that isn't scheduled to open until 2014--it seems like a long time to wait for Molly to be honored.  The plus side is that there is plenty of time to lobby the powers that be to name it after her.  The down side is the library committee might be tempted to name it after a  big money donor.

---

by: boo @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 18:33:29 PM UTC

I was thinking of a statue in front of the library (0.00 / 0)

Is the central library still going to be named for John Henry Faulk? Then I think a statue of Molly (or maybe the 2 of them together) in front of the library would be good.

Hill Country Ride for AIDSmy HCRA Page

---

by: BeckyH @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 20:38:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What Would MOLLY Do? (4.00 / 4)

Molly and I were dear friends for 45 years.  I am honored now to be CEO/Publisher of her beloved Texas Observer (the best, award-winningest, muck-raking independent investigative journal anywhere), which she once edited and always supported.

"Help us keep this rare independent flower of journalism blooming," Molly wrote.

Well you can.

Support The Texas Observer by buying subscriptions for youself and your friends and making a contribution in Molly's memory....which, we hope, will enable us to establish a "Molly Ivins Investigative Journalism Fellowship at The Texas Observer."  In other word, more reporting of the sort Molly so valued.

To subscribe, give a gift subscription, or make a contribution, go to:

www.texasobserver.org

...or mail your contribution to:

The Texas Observer
307 West 7th Street
Austin, Texas 78701

As someone mentioned, just last month we presented the inaugural MOLLY National Journalism Prize to honor great American journalism an remember Molly's legacy.

Go online to http://www.texasobserver.org/e...  to read the winning stories....and listen to the first MOLLY winner Diane Suchetka of the Plain Dealer in Cleveland  channel Molly in her acceptance speech.

Molly would have loved it.

And Molly would love for you to support The Texas Observer.

Carlton Carl
CEO/Exeecutive Publisher
The Texas Observer
carl@texasobserver.org
www.texasobserver.org

---

by: Carlton Carl @ Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 20:11:02 PM UTC

Molly would have you remember 1) the Texas Observer and 2) the ACLU (0.00 / 0)

She really doesn't need a statue, a street or a bridge named after her. Nothing would please her more than for you to get a subscription to the Observer, throw a contribution their way, and also become a sustaining member of the Texas chapter of ACLU.

---

by: leo @ Sat Jul 05, 2008 at 07:57:16 AM UTC