Roy Simmons Jr. and Jim Ridlon, Syracuse University alumni and Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame inductees, are collaborating with the Everson Museum of Art in downtown Syracuse for the second annual Harley-Davidson raffle.

The Everson Museum of Art is currently selling raffle tickets for a Harley Davidson motorcycle with a paint design created by Simmons and Ridlon.

Both men have been actively involved with the museum for several decades. They have works in the museum’s permanent collections and have served on the Everson Museum’s Board of Trustees. They are also both recipients of the Everson Medal, said Helen Dewey, development director at the Everson Museum.

‘The Everson Medal is the museum’s highest honor, and is awarded annually to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the Everson Museum of Art and the arts,’ Dewey said. ‘Both men are outstanding artists worthy of having their works eternalized for the community, so we approached them last spring and asked them to create the concept design for this year’s motorcycle.’

Simmons and Ridlon came up with the theme ‘Legends of 44.’ The custom paint job was done by local the Syracuse company Kolorcraft.

The motorcycle is painted bright orange with a blue pinstripe so as to ‘keep with SU tradition,’ said Lenny Smith, owner of Kolorcraft. The motorcycle was then painted with images of Ernie Davis, Jim Brown and Floyd Little, famous SU football players who all wore the number 44, he said.

The motorcycle also contains images of the old Archbold Stadium and the Heisman Trophy, which was won by Ernie Davis in 1961, Smith said.

The motorcycle itself, a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, was a partial donation from Performance Harley Davidson.

‘Both (Harley-Davidson and Kolorcraft) donated a tremendous amount of time and labor,’ Dewey said.

Simmons, who graduated in 1959 with a degree in sculpture and coached SU men’s lacrosse for 40 years, said he believes sports and the arts can go together as the theme demonstrates.

‘There is a great correlation between sports and the arts,’ he said. ‘They both involve sensitivity and competitiveness.’

Simmons said his former SU lacrosse teammate, Ridlon, is a prime example of someone who excels in both sports and the arts.

Ridlon played both varsity lacrosse and varsity football at SU before graduating in 1957. He then went on to play professional football. Simmons named Ridlon as one of the people who inspired him to major in sculpture.

‘Jim is an accomplished athlete, but also a gifted artist,’ Simmons said.

The motorcycle will be on display at the Carousel Center from Nov. 28 to Dec. 11. The motorcycle will also be featured at the SU vs. Cincinnati football game on Oct. 29 as a part of Parent’s Weekend festivities.

The Everson has worked with the SU Athletic Department to arrange the motorcycle to be showcased at the game, Dewey said. At halftime, the motorcycle will be ridden onto the field by Syracuse Fire Chief, John Cowin.

Tickets for the motorcycle raffle are on sale now. They can be purchased at one for $20 or six for $100. Only 5,000 tickets will be sold, Dewey said.

The money raised by the raffle will go into the museum’s general fund to support exhibitions and educational projects. Last year’s raffle raised more than $30,000 for the museum, she said.

Aside from raising money, ‘the raffle is a unique way for us to show that art comes in all different shapes and sizes,’ Dewey said. ‘From the sculptural form of the motorcycle as a machine to the intricacies of the custom paint, it is a functional work of art.’

The raffle drawing will take place at noon on Dec. 28 at the Everson Museum. Last year’s raffle winner, Bill Upfold, will draw this year’s winning ticket. Simmons said he hopes to be at the drawing as well.

To buy raffle tickets or for more information on the ‘Legends of 44’ raffle, contact the Everson Museum of Art at (315) 474-6064.

Published on September 25, 2005 at 12:00 pm