Pavlik painting to hang in the Butler

YOUNGSTOWN— Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik is taking up permanent residence at a museum, and everyone is invited to the housewarming party.

The Butler Insitute of American Art is unveiling an original painting of Pavlik by local artist Ray Simon. The painting, titled “Forged in Fire, Iron and Steel,” combines the Jeannette Blast Furnace of Youngstown Sheet and Tube with Pavlik, middleweight boxing champion of the world, to represent the spirit and force of the Valley.

Beneath the title, the painting reads, “Borne from the archives of history, a ghost from the past, out of an industrial giant great fighters amass. Now a champion of the people stands a victor ringside, a national hero bearing honor and pride.”

“I love the way [Simon] has tied Kelly’s strength, tenacity and will to win to the Valley and to our steelmaking past,” said Dr. Lou Zona, director of the Butler. “We like the world to know that we’ve had a great past, and I think this says something about the future as well.”

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com