It won't be long before little hands will be finger-painting and little voices will be reciting the alphabet at the Theodore M. Berry Head Start building in the West End.

Theodore Berry Jr. (right) thanks sculptor Robert Shepard. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        On Tuesday evening, a sculpture and plaque honoring the center's namesake was unveiled.

        The bronze plaque, created by Loveland artist Robert Shepard, features a life-size bust of Cincinnati's first African-American mayor with hands holding a book and a biographical sketch written by Robert S. Brown, a lawyer and a sponsor of the sculpture.

        Theodore Berry Jr., Mr. Berry's son, said: “It's magnificent — very lifelike. We're very pleased with it.”

        The plaque was unveiled at a reception to honor the late Mr. Berry and Frank B. Dyer, former superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools. Dyer Elementary once stood on the lot at 880 W. Court St. The new 35,000-square-foot early childhood education center is 98 percent complete, said Verline Dotson, director of the Head Start program for Hamilton County, which will operate out of the new building.

        Ms. Dotson hopes to see the ribbon-cutting ceremony — and the first children marching in — by early December.

        It took Mr. Shepard five months to complete the half-relief bust. He studied photographs of Mr. Berry at different ages to create an image of him as the former mayor looked at about age 45.

        The likeness of Mr. Berry hangs in the entrance lobby of the center. Included in the composition is a relief of Union Terminal. In his early years, Mr. Berry worked as a porter at the train station.

        “Mr. Berry's life was almost unbelievable,” said Mr. Brown, “born without a father to a deaf mother with no real opportunities, except the ones he made for himself. It is fitting that he will inspire the children who will use this building.”

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