What to get the man that has just about everything? A statue!
Behold, the gift presented to Carolina Panthers’ owner Jerry Richardson on Monday, to celebrate his 80th birthday:
Yes, that’s a nearly 13-foot tall statue of Richardson, standing on top of a 4-foot pedestal, flanked by two panthers for good measure. The piece was unveiled outside the north entrance of Bank of America Stadium in downtown Charlotte, given by Richardson’s partners.
It’s called “The Tribute.”
An inscription on the base of the sculpture reads, “The Indomitable Spirits who guard our stadium were led here by a man who took us beyond where others even imagined. In this place, for this place – his relentless drive inspired a display of unity in the Carolinas worthy of a world’s stage. On the occasion of Jerry Richardson’s 80th birthday, this sculpture is dedicated and commissioned as a loving gift to him and his family by his partners.”