When Willie B., our magnificent western lowland gorilla patriarch passed away peacefully at the age of 41 in early February of 2000, the Zoo Atlanta family mourned his loss deeply and painfully. He had been more than an important animal in our collection of endangered and fascinating animals. Willie was a hero of sorts, a larger-than-life character who had come to embody the remarkable reinvention and rise to success of our zoo. His graceful transition from solitary caged animal to affectionate patriarch of an expanded family living in the lush Ford African Rain Forest came to represent the institution's rise from the brink of failure

Like any family in mourning, we faced decisions that had to be made immediately, and pulled together a major memorial event in just three days. Sympathy and support poured in from across the country. Deceased Pet Care Inc. contributed their crematorium services, Patterson & Son Funeral Home provided a buried maple display urn for the ashes, and children and adults sent hundreds of drawings, poems, and letters of condolence. On the Saturday following Willie's death, over 7,000 people came to pay their last respects. They listened with sadness as speakers (including Dr. Maple, former Mayor Andrew Young, Willie's keeper Charles Horton, historian Richard Reynolds III, senior veterinarian Dr. Rita McManamon, and board chairman Robert Petty) shared their memories and their feelings about the late great ape.

Various plans for the final disposition of Willie's ashes were discussed. On one hand, we liked the idea of returning the ashes to his native land in West Africa. But there was also strong feeling that Willie's remains should remain in Atlanta, where he had lived for nearly four decades. Through the generosity of Delta Air Lines and

Contributions to the memorial had started to arrive on the day following Willie's death. We immediately established a dedicated fund, The Willie B. Memorial Fund. Under the leadership of Denny and Renee Hopf, who chaired the fund and made a generous personal gift, we have raised more than $600,000 to cover the cost of the sculpture, the memorial garden, and other immediate projects in the gorilla habitat. Over time, we will raise additional funds to endow the position of a Coordinator of Primate Research, and to fund our African education programs. A list of major donors to the Willie B. Memorial Fund is included with this article.

The next step was a call for proposals from sculptors who wished to compete for the commission of memorializing Willie B. The response was amazing. We heard from nearly two hundred artists from across the nation, and the world. They sent photos of their works, references, and proposals on how they might approach this important task. We studied the plans and narrowed the list, searching for an artist who could capture the unique image and attitude of our Willie B. One proposal kept rising to the top, that of Edwin Bogucki of Racine, Wisconsin. Bogucki had enclosed some photos of remarkable sculptures of famous racehorses that he had created on commission. These horses thundered across the pages, each muscle defined, nostrils flared, eyes set on the finish line. He had captured the power, speed and unique beauty of each magnificent animal. We learned that he also had experience in sculpting gorillas, having won the commission to create a statue of "Samson" for the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. When we first met with Bogucki at Zoo Atlanta, the decision was made. His sensitivity, his obvious love and respect for animals, and his craftsmanship made him the undisputed first choice.

Bogucki spent a day observing Willie's family and the other gorillas in the Ford African Rain Forest. He talked for hours with Charles Horton, the person who knew Willie best. Before returning to Racine, he selected hundreds of videos and photos from the zoo's collection and from Charles Horton's personal collection. The Internet served as a frequent link between Bogucki and the zoo. He kept us informed of his progress through frequent photos and e-mails. These photos gave us opportunities to comment and inform the creative process. Charles Horton was the primary consultant on details from the expression on the face to the position of the toes. After we approved a small version of the work, known as a maquette, Bogucki moved on to the life-size version. Horton flew to Racine several times to work closely with Charles Horton was the primary consultant on details from Bogucki in his studio, twice the expression on the face to Me position of the toes. Accompanied by crew from WSB TV who were working on a one-hour documentary on Willie's life. On his last trip, Horton carried the large brass box containing most of Willie's ashes. When representatives of Arizona Bronze, the foundry selected to cast the work, came to Racine to make the casts, they carried the bronze box along with the casts back to Arizona. The box was later sealed inside the 700-lb. sculpture during the final casting process.

Meanwhile, the zoo staff was busy creating the perfect setting for the VVillie B. memorial garden. Under the direction of Deputy Director Steve Marshall, the maintenance and horticulture teams carved out a graceful alcove very near Willie B's old habitat, and beside the Elders' Tree Theater. Nevin Lash, an architect who has worked with Zoo Atlanta for many years, generously contributed the garden design. Lash felt a deep personal commitment to the project. Artist Leta Rogers added an interpretive stone sculpture to the planted area. The zoo's horticulture experts created a lush rainforest environment that embraces the sculpture and provides a beautiful setting for Bogucki's masterwork. It all came together in time for an opening ceremony on April 20.

The Willie B. Memorial Garden instantly became a destination for zoo visitors, and it seems that almost everyone stops to take a photo of this evocative sculpture. We are pleased to see children and adults posed in the cradle of Willie's massive arms or standing proudly by his side. We see parents and grandparents sit ting on the stone benches as they tell their children and grandchildren their own memories of the gentle giant who proudly walked out of his one-room home of 27 years to become one of the world's most famous silverbacks.