August 11, 2026 – Community members gathered Tuesday to dedicate a memorial statue honoring Ellsworth Dansby Jr., a pioneering member of the Tuskegee Airmen, outside the Decatur school that bears his name.
The bronze sculpture, created by renowned sculptor and Decatur native Preston Jackson, stands in front of Ellsworth Dansby Jr. School, which opened in 2025. The project was funded through a lead gift from Jack McCoy and support from the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation.
Jackson depicted Dansby in his Tuskegee Airmen uniform, recognizing his service as a mechanic with the historic all-Black military unit during World War II. The sculpture also features symbolic elements, including the Double V for victory abroad and at home, along with pennies at its base representing Dansby’s quiet advocacy for greater employment opportunities for minority workers.
The dedication ceremony was hosted by the Decatur Public Schools Foundation and the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation, with Jackson in attendance for the unveiling.
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