 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|||||||
|
HELM ROBERTS  Helm Roberts: August 26th, 1931 - 2011. Like so many others I was saddened by his departure. Helm was not only a friend and colleague, he was a great resource for any aspiring architect or engineer. Whenever I had a question regarding architecture I knew I could count on Helm for a helping hand. He had an easy way about him and a command of knowledge that assured you of his expertise. He would offer his critique and if you went completely off course he would kindly nudge you back in the right direction. He worked tirelessly to help others, an attribute that was reflected so many times in his architecture and designs. Helm will be remembered by most people for his design of the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial located in Frankfort, Kentucky. A masterpiece of design, mathematics, history, honor and beauty. A project that Helm considered a labor of love. A tribute to the 125,000 Kentuckians who served in Vietnam. From the time the General assembly created the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation on March 23, 1984 through its dedication on November 7, 1987 and the years that followed. Helm envisioned, created and remained active throughout his long career with the memorial that has been visited and enjoyed by countless people and dignitaries from around the world. Throughout the history of the memorial Helm often hosted groups of students and veterans, answering questions about the memorial. The memorial attracts a large number of visitors and is second only to the state capital in attendance. Helm was a champion for the citizens of Lexington and Kentucky since the 60s. He helped preserve a large portion of Lexington's green spaces and define Lexington's urban service boundaries. Whenever a boundary was challenged by a developer Helm would go to City Hall and fight to keep those boundaries in place. He was also a key player in the master plan that removed the railroad tracks from downtown Lexington. Helm designed homes, retirement villages, apartment complexes, developed subdivisions and the planning of over thirty military bases. A recipient of numerous awards and citations, Helm was a true leader in his profession. As a former Naval Aviator, Helm flew the Douglas AD Skyraiders while attached to the Carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. I once asked Helm what it was like to operate from an aircraft carrier. He smiled and said "One of the most important things for a carrier pilot to do is to keep the number of launches equal to the number of landings you make". A tribute to the dangerous job that is life of our servicemen and women. Whenever I'm enjoying a sunny day and I see a long shadow, I will think of my friend Helm, the man that made shadow casting an art. Lon Whitson The circle of stones around the base of the gnomon are inscribed with the verse from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: For everything there is a season; and a time for every matter under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time pluck up what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal, A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to seek, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace. |
|||||||||