Deborah Copenhaver Fellows Explained

Deborah Copenhaver Fellows (born 1948) is an American sculptor known for her Western themed works. Her best known work is the life-sized statue of former Arizona senator Barry Goldwater included in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. It was added to the collection as one of Arizona’s two statues in 2015.

Life

Fellows was born and raised on a ranch in northern Idaho. Her father Deb Copenhaver was a champion rodeo rider, winning two world championships in 1955 and 1956 and was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1991[1] and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1992.[2] As a teenager Deborah Coperhaver was selected Miss Rodeo Washington.[3] [4] During this time she developed a passion for horses that is frequently reflected in her sculpture.

She attended Fort Wright College of the Holy Names where she first began a serious study of sculpture.[5]

She married Fred Fellows and had a daughter, Fabienne.[6]

Her statue of Bing Crosby was erected just outside the Crosby Student Center, on the Gonzaga University and dedicated on May 3, 1981, Crosby’s birthday.[7]

Fellows won a competition to create the Washington Korean War Memorial, (hers was of a Korean War veteran) and it was dedicated on the Washington State Capitol grounds in Olympia, Washington , on July 24, 1993.[8]

She was inducted into the National Sculpture Society in 2008 and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in 2009.[9]

Selected works

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Deb Copenhaver - Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame. erhof.com. 2018-03-08. 2018-03-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180309120232/http://erhof.com/inductees/deb-copenhaver/. dead.
  2. Web site: Deb Copenhaver - Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. 2018-03-08. 2019-06-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20190618223556/http://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/inductees/by-category/saddle-bronc-riding/deb-copenhaver/. dead.
  3. Web site: Former Title Holders. Miss Rodeo Washington Pageant, Inc. 2018-03-08. 2018-03-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180309120440/https://www.missrodeowashingtoninc.com/former-title-holders.html. dead.
  4. Web site: Back When They Bucked with Deb Copenhaver - The Rodeo News. 24 November 2014.
  5. Web site: Deborah Copenhaver Fellows. fellowsstudios.com.
  6. Web site: About Deborah Copenhaver Fellows . Fellows Studios . 2021 .
  7. Web site: Bronze Statue of Bing Crosby - Spokane Historical. Spokane Historical.
  8. Web site: Korean War memorial. 26 April 2016.
  9. Web site: Deborah Copenhaver Fellows - C&I Magazine. 28 February 2016.
  10. Web site: The Founder. Deborah. Copenhaver. 8 March 1980. siris-artinventories.si.edu Library Catalog.
  11. Web site: Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Deborah. Copenhaver. 8 March 1984. siris-artinventories.si.edu Library Catalog.
  12. Web site: Montana Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. Deborah. Copenhaver. 8 March 1988. siris-artinventories.si.edu Library Catalog.
  13. Web site: Tribute to a Cowboy. Deborah. Copenhaver. siris-artinventories.si.edu Library Catalog.
  14. Web site: Korean War Memorial. Deborah. Copenhaver. 8 March 1989. siris-artinventories.si.edu Library Catalog.
  15. Web site: Anacortes Lady of the Sea Sculpture (& a great kayak launch at the Cap Sante Marina - Seafarers Memorial Park). Everyone's Travel Club.