The Alexander Phimister Proctor statue of Theodore Roosevelt was unveiled on Saturday, Oct. 29, after a parade to the triangle at the intersection of Berry Hill Road and Pine Hollow Road. The statue was installed with the backing of the Rotary Club of Oyster Bay as a project to commemorate the Rotary International Centennial in 2005.

It was fitting that an international organization should herald the internationally known 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt in his own home town, Oyster Bay. During the ceremony, thanks was given to Andy Tini, past Governor of Rotary International District 7250 and the chairman of the TR Statue Committee.

Acting as the master of ceremonies, rotarian Rich Cieciuch said, "It's a 'Bully Day' in Oyster Bay," and said he was "Dee-lighted" on behalf of the Rotary Club to welcome everyone. He introduced the many speakers seated on the showmobile including the Rev. Jeffrey Prey who gave the benediction and added that the First Presbyterian Church was TR's boyhood church and that his family gave the money to build the church's manse.

Roger Bahnik said the statue's location on the corner of the Boys & Girls Club was perfect, since TR loved kids so much, he would have liked the location. "We might never let it move from here," he said, adding, "Hear that John Venditto?" Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto said he hoped they had a recording of his words. [There is still a question as to where the statue will rest. The town has been in negotiations for the purchase of the triangle from entrepreneur Charles Wang of Island Properties, as a possible location.]

Mr. Bahnik, a native of Switzerland, said, "I am a big fan of TR although I'm not exactly an Oyster Bay person." He thanked the Oyster Bay Rotary for taking on the project and said the completion of the two-year project was due to the perseverance and leadership of Andy Tini and his committee members: John Hammond, Mike Rich and Joe Reilly.

Mr. Venditto said, "One hundred years ago Colonel Roosevelt unleashed a certain spirit that still guides us today. A spirit that creates a fine place to work, live and raise a family."

Norman Parsons, former Sea Cliff Mayor and president of the Theodore Roosevelt Association credited Sandy Church, TR's grandson for helping the project. Mr. Parsons said in 2000, Mike Rich, a student of TR, asked the late Dr. John Gable about the possibility of having a statue of Theodore Roosevelt for Oyster Bay and they worked with Mr. Church to get the statue cast. "John would have loved to be here today," Mr. Parsons said, adding that the TRA is truly proud to have our 26th President standing at the gateway of the community he loved.

Elizabeth (Liz) Roosevelt, TRA executive committee member congratulated the Rotary Club for bringing the statue to Oyster Bay. Speaking as a history of art teacher she said the equestrian statue looking forward means that the rider is "in control" and said, "Theodore Roosevelt was the first American president to receive the Nobel Prize by brokering the end of the Ruso-Japanese War with the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth. During his administration, there was no war."

Rotarian Cieciuch thanked the donors who made it possible to have the statue cast and brought to Oyster Bay. They include, Roger and Lori Bahnik, Rotarian Fredric R. Coudert III, George and Abby O'Neill, Mr. and Mrs. David Deming, Joseph Shapiro; Mrs. and Mrs. Owen T. Walsh, Rotarian Dr. and Mrs. Surinder Wadyal; and Past District Governor of Rotary International Milt Zipper.

He said in a telephone interview that the funds are being handled by the Rotary Club of Oyster Bay Student Loan Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation chaired by Andi Tini. The other board members are: Debra Goyena, secretary; Rich Cieciuch, treasurer; members Tom Reardon, Steve Williams, and Dr. Phyllis Harrington. Their legal counsel is Jack Bernstein.

At the dedication, NYS Senator Carl Marcellino introduced the keynote speaker, NYS Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Places Bernadette Castro, saying that she has done more for the parks of New York State than anyone else. "She visits every park and makes sure each is upgraded. She has opened many new parks, including four in the 5th Senate District."

Commissioner Castro said , "We have a whole TR trail in the state of New York. This statue will be on that trail." She mentioned starting the day at the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum dedication as a National Historic Place and said Oyster Bay is part of the North Shore Heritage Trail. She has been working with Lori Bahnik, co-chair of the Long Island North Shore Heritage Trail Planning Commission that will encourage heritage tourism and she said that more dollars will be flowing into the community for historic preservation programs.

Rotarian Andy Tini, TR Statue Committee chair said the project began two years ago when he asked then Rotary President Elect Dr. Phyllis Harrington [OB-EN School District Superintendent of Schools] if the Rotary Club of Oyster Bay would approve the TR statue project as fitting to answer the request of Rotary International as a commemoration of their centennial. "She told me to 'go with it.' I went to Dr. John Gable and he said it was difficult but that he was for it. He told me to see Mike Rich, known in Oyster Bay as 'Mr. Teddy Roosevelt'. I met with Mike Rich, Oyster Bay Town Historian John Hammond and Joe Reilly. (Joe Reilly's great grandfather rode with TR as a Rough Rider.) The next step was to raise the money and then there was trouble on where to put the statue. Then we found our guardian angel, Roger Bahnik. He gave us the spot in front of the Boys & Girls Club and then a large grant of money from the Bahnik Foundation." Mr. Tini said Rotary International had sent a letter of congratulations for the project. He thanked the members of the community, including the 154 donors to whom he sent thank you notes.

Rotarian Lawrence R. Jorgenson, a member of the RI Centennial committee thanked the Oyster Bay Historical Society which created the TR statue memorial program edited by OBHS director Tom Kuehhas. "It is a lasting tribute to TR," he said.

James Foote, TR re-enactor closed the program as he educated the audience about Theodore Roosevelt. As he spoke, a small group gathered across the street to watch the statue being unveiled. The group included over 40 veterans. Reginald Butt, Commander of the Quentin Roosevelt American Legion Post #4 gathered them from Oyster Bay and the surrounding communities to attend the unveiling. They marched from the Derby-Hall bandstand up South Street to the dedication site as a group with both Legionnaires and Veterans of Foreign Wars members all together.

The great, grand crowd made up of children, Scouts, veterans, rangers, parents, and admirers of TR watched as the blue tarpaulin slipped from the equestrian statue revealing the 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt. Everyone clapped and in a moment, everyone was taking photographs, and recording the day on camcorders and DVDs for future generations. It was a day to celebrate living in Oyster Bay.