Sparty isn’t going to stand alone on campus much longer.

“He’ll be in good company,” said Timothy Soule, regional director of University Development and the lead officer heading a project to add a bronze statue of former MSU President John A. Hannah to campus in 2003.

“It kind of sits in with the campus beautification plans.”

Hannah, who died in 1991, is remembered by many as one of the most important figures in MSU’s history.

The 7 to 7-and-one-half-foot tall bronze figure of MSU’s 12th president will stand on a 3-foot high granite base in front of the north side of the Administration Building, which was named after him upon his death.

The sculpture is part of the University Development’s Public Art on Campus Initiative.

Although it is the only project in the works, the art committee set a goal of obtaining at least five pieces of public art by 2005. These pieces are to depict a piece of the heritage and legacy of MSU.

“It’s a wonderful way to honor Dr. Hannah,” Trustee Dee Cook said.

“I think this recognizes his contribution to Michigan State in an appropriate way.”

He is to be immortalized midstride, to symbolize how he was always on the move and “to appear as if he was walking right with the students,” Soule said.

Hannah’s presidency began in 1941, replacing Robert S. Shaw, who held the position since 1928 and also was Hannah’s father-in-law. He was succeeded in 1969 by former economics Professor Walter Adams, who served until 1970.

Walter Adams’ widow, Pauline Adams, said Hannah contributed greatly to MSU.

“I think he was looked up to all over the country,” Pauline Adams said. “Obviously he had worked many years to build the university to what it is today.”

Hannah left the MSU a much bigger university than he came to. During his tenure, Michigan State College became Michigan State University and the student population grew to more than seven times its size before he took office.

Many new academic programs also were created under Hannah’s watch including the Honors College, Lyman Briggs School and James Madison College. MSU also gained entry into the Big Ten Conference.

But MSU was not the only concern of the well-regarded president.

Hannah served on an international advisory panel as its assistant secretary of defense from 1953-1954 and as chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from 1975-1964.

In all, he served in eight U.S. president’s administrations.

He also established an informal group that met monthly called the Spartan Roundtable, where student group representatives could discuss issues with administrators.

“The university owes him a deep debt of gratitude,” former MSU President John DiBiaggio said. “I don’t think they could do enough for him.”

DiBiaggio was at MSU’s helm when Hannah died in 1991 and delivered the eulogy at his funeral.

“The stories are legend,” he said. “He would sign every diploma himself. He knew every student, even when the school became quite larger.”

DiBiaggio said he feels the new sculpture is a good way to remember Hannah’s accomplishments, and that his legacy should live on after all those that knew him are gone.

But Hannah didn’t accomplish all he did alone.

A brief biography of these accomplishments and the colleagues who helped him along will be engraved on a plaque at the foot of new Hannah statue.

“I think that President Hannah was the person that really integrated with his team of people in moving the university from regional college to global research college,” MSU President M. Peter McPherson said.

McPherson was a leadership donor for the statue project with a gift more than $10,000.

“He was just such a historical figure here that we should properly recognize him,” McPherson said. “In 50 years no one will be around here that ever knew John Hannah and I want to make sure that he was appropriately recognized.”

The statue will cost an estimated $250,000 and is set to be privately funded via donations. More than $150,000 has been raised for the project.

One-fifth of the money will go toward maintenance and clean-up on the sculpture as needed, Soule said, although he doesn’t think the Hannah sculpture will be as targeted for vandalism as the Spartan statue.

“Unfortunately these things are possible,” Soule said. “I think that area provides more challenges.”

The rest of the money raised will be used to pay California-based artist Bruce Wolfe, who has received numerous awards for his works in bronze and oils.

In the end, MSU will host the ultimate tribute to one of its greatest leaders DiBiaggio said.

Amy Bartner can be reached at bartnera@msu.edu.