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Senator George Norris

About the Sculpture

George Norris was born July 11, 1861 in Sandusky, Ohio. He attended Baldwin University (now Baldwin-Wallace College), taught school and studied law at Northern Indiana Normal School (now Valparaiso University) before being admitted to the bar in 1883. He moved to Nebraska two years later to begin practicing law. He was elected to Congress in 1902 and was re-elected four times and led an insurgent group that forced reforms in the House rules to reduce the autocratic control of the speaker. In 1912 he was elected to the Senate and served in that role until 1943. He was strongly antiwar, the author of the 20th Amendment, fought for the introduction of presidential primaries and for direct election of U.S. senators. He was well known as the "father of the unicameral", for not strictly following his party, he "would rather be right than regular" and being a progressive voice championing efforts to reform corrupt practices in government, improve labor conditions and modernize infrastructure.

As one of the principal figures of Nebraska history, George Norris has been memorialized in this statuette. As stated on the plaque, "This sculpture by George Lundeen was placed in the Mayor's office in 2012 by Mayor Chris Beutler to emphasize the importance of mutual respect and compromise to a successful democratic process."

In this sculpture, Norris holds a glass insulator used on electrical transmission lines, symbolizing the crucial role he played in establishing the Tennessee Valley Authority and other electrification projects, which brought inexpensive power to rural Americans.

The full body of the bronze figure of George Norris. He stands with dignity, holding a bit of glass and a hat in either hand.

The top half of a bronze figurine of Senator George Norris. He is dressed in a suit, with a jacket and a bowtie. He is holding a glass insulator in one hand and a hat in the hand.

About the Artist

George W. Lundeen is a native of Holdrege, NE. He was a Fulbright-Hayes scholar at the Academia de Belle Arte in Florence, Italy. He also studied at Hastings College and the University of Illinois, where he acquired a masters in Fine Arts. He moved to Loveland, CO in the mid 70s and established his sculpture studio there.

Lundeen has also created Rarin' to Ride, Summer Showers, and Prairie Flowers.

Additional Information

County-City Building*

This sculpture is located within a building and is only accessible during normal business hours.

Length: 1 ft.

Width: 1 ft.

Height: 2.5 ft.