Professor Hunter's Gator Statue to Spark Student Spirit

GOLDEN GATE XPRESS -- The statue, which has been dubbed the Gator Spirit Statue, will be a 10-foot bronzed gator featuring engraved plaques that can be purchased by current students and alumni, according to the project’s website. According to Doug Hupke, executive director of Alumni and Constituent Relations and Annual Giving, the idea for the statue originated in the hopes of promoting school spirit. It was designed by Leonard Hunter, a professor of art and sculpture at SF State until he retired in 2006. Hunter is working with sculptor Ilaman Sabirov on the project, with whom he collaborated in the past to create the bronze busts of former SF State coaches Vic Rowen and Joe Verducci, currently housed in front of the gymnasium.