Construction to begin on Kilby monument

Last Update: 6/17 6:20 pm

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GREAT BEND, Kansas – A Great Bend man recognized for inventing the microchip is set to have a monument built in his honor. The project’s been underway for several years and now the finances are almost in place to get construction started.

Signs at the entryways to Great Bend mark the most notable of Jack Kilby’s achievements. A commons area of the high school is named after him and so is the courthouse square. For years there’s been talk of doing something more to honor the Nobel Prize winner.

“We intended initially to have a modest bronze bust of Jack Kilby and it was nice,” said Glenn Opie, Kilby’s friend and monument committee chair.

But the monument quickly expanded into a sculpture series called “The Gift.” It shows Kilby handing his microchip to the children of the future generation. After all, his invention has paved the way for many modern conveniences like cell phones and computers. This week architects showed off their plans for the bronze statues, the lighting and landscape around the monument. The original design has been modified.

“What we've done is we've raised all the sculptures up,” said Chet Cale, Kilby monument artist. “We try to bring vision up to the focal point which, of course, is Jack because that's who we're really trying to honor here.”

The Kilby Monument will transform the courthouse square. It's a welcome addition that comes on the heels of the "My Town" project, which has now brought seven new businesses to downtown Great Bend.

Completing the Kilby Monument will cost about $400,000 – most of which has been raised thanks to private donors. The architects will have the project’s construction specs ready to bid within 90 days and it’s hoped construction can begin next year.

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