Colorado State University Welcomes 1,200-Pound Bronze Ram to Campus

Ram pride at Colorado State University has never been taller–or weightier–thanks to a project organized by local sculptor Dawn Weimer and her husband, Colorado State alumnus Tom Weimer.

The "Ram Proud" bronze sculpture, weighing 1,200 pounds and standing 12 feet tall, will be installed north of Moby Arena on the lawn of the Durrell Center at 10 a.m. Aug. 16. The giant ram is the result of a four-year project initiated by the Weimers, who aimed at providing Colorado State with a monumental mascot to enhance the campus and build ram pride.

To fund the project, Dawn Weimer, a popular western and wildlife artist, created 50 table-top models of "Ram Proud." The Weimers promoted the project and models were purchased by collectors across the country in addition to area community members, alumni and friends of the university. The project raised more than $100,000 for the larger "Ram Proud" sculpture. Each donor’s name will be placed on a plaque at the base of the sculpture.

"We’ve had quite a connection with Colorado State," said Tom Weimer, who graduated in 1966 from the university’s College of Business. "Our dream was to give Colorado State a sculpture that would represent the pride we feel in the university. ‘Ram Proud’ immortalizes that feeling in bronze and it is our hope that students will take pride in the piece and that the piece will relate to the pride they feel in their university."

"I sculpted ‘Ram Proud’ with a vision of the victory and success that I think represents Colorado State and where it’s going," said Dawn Weimer. "It’s been very gratifying to do this project for the university, particularly with all the successes the university has enjoyed recently in its academics, with its veterinary school and in its athletics."

"The sculpture embodies the pride we hold in Colorado State University" said Gerry Bomotti, vice-president for administrative services at Colorado State. "We are grateful to Dawn and Tom Weimer and to all our friends who supported the project. This gift will benefit generations of students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests of the university."

Dawn Weimer has exhibited her art across the country, and her work has been featured in publications including "Wildlife Art," Southwest Art," "Art of the West," "Art Revue" and "Horse and Rider." Weimer has won awards for her work at the "This Is Colorado" exhibit, the Western Heritage Artists Exhibit, the Western Spirit Show and the Safari Club International, among others. Weimer’s model "Ram Proud" also won first place in the 1997 Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club competition in New York.