Gen. McAlexander poses for a bust by sculptor Pompeo Coppini, ca. 1930. The completed bust of Major General U. G. McAlexander, U.S. Army retired, was awarded the Grand prize and Gold Medal at the Balogne, Italy, exhibition in 1931. The sculptor, Pompeo Coppini, has been knighted, Commandatore of the crown of Italy by the King for his life work and other worthy contributions in the field of art to the United States, where he has been a citizen for over thiry years. Mr. Coppini executed a great number of important public memorials in many states, including three equestrian groups.
The "Lady of the Fountain" is property of the Class of 1902. Shown in the picture are: Claude F. Palmer, Alma Ethelyn Scharpf, Dean Mary A. Rolfe, (behind lady), Helen Gail Mattley, and Harold Walton Readon. The statue was stolen by U of O students and stored in a Portland basement for almost two years. Helen Mattley '22 got word of it through "devious" channels and after it was confirmed through a fake inspection by Floyd Carter '20 passing as a telephone employee. The group listed above along with Johnny Wells, campus policeman, went to Portland and brought it back. It was returned during a track meet in 1922.
The Lady of the Fountain was a gift of the class of 1902 and constructed shortly after graduation. It was the second class gift presented to OSU in school history and was located on lower campus, just to the west of the intersection of where Madison Street today crosses 9th Street. On January 21, 1929, the statue was found destroyed.