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“ROGER MORIGI” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S1022-S1023 on Jan. 18, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ROGER MORIGI
MR. THURMOND. Mr. President perhaps once in a generation, one person will emerge as a master artisan, a person whose vision, skills, and creations not only inspire others, but set that artist apart from all others practicing the craft. Until this past Wednesday, we were fortunate to have such a person, Mr. Roger Morigi, living in the Metropolitan area. His many sculptures and carvings not only paid homage to the United States, but have been seen and enjoyed by literally millions of people.
Mr. Morigi was a part of what is literally a vanishing breed of artists--stone carvers, individuals who create monuments to people and ideas through the medium of rock. Not surprisingly, Mr. Morigi was a native of Italy, the home of some of history's greatest artists, and a country where sculpting has always been an appreciated and valued art form. Born in Como and schooled in Milan, Mr. Morigi emigrated to New Haven, CT, where he and his father practiced their craft.
In the following years, Mr. Morigi became an accomplished artist as he worked on projects in New Haven, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and South Carolina. It was right here though, in the District of Columbia, where Mr. Morigi spent most of his adult life and where his works are most prevalent. The U.S.
[[Page S1023]] Supreme Court Building, the U.S. District Court Building, the Commerce Building, the Department of Justice Building, and the Department of Agriculture Building are just a few of the places where Morigi's works appear. Perhaps some of Mr. Morigi's most impressive work is a part of the ornately decorated National Cathedral, where he worked and created stone carvings for almost three decades. One of the most prominent carvings, that of Adam, is a part of the cathedral's main entrance and Morigi said of that work, according to the Washington Post, ``I finished where God began.''
With each project he completed, not only did Mr. Morigi create a piece of artwork, he improved his skills and knowledge, which helped him to earn the title of ``master stone carver emeritus'' and to be characterized by some as the ``greatest carver of the 20th Century''. Perhaps more importantly, he used his talents to craft pieces that beautified and paid a lasting tribute to his adopted homeland, the United States. While this great artist will be missed, his creations will ensure that he is never forgotten. My sympathies go out to Mr. Morigi's wife, Louise; and children, Francis and Elayne.
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