'A mentor to all of us'

COEUR d'ALENE — A bronze bust of the late Dr. E.R.W. "Ted" Fox was donated Wednesday to the Coeur d'Alene Public Library.

"I just respected him so much," said sculptor Bryan Ross of Sagle who made the wax representation of the beloved doctor more than a decade ago.

That wax creation sat in Ross' studio for 12 years before it was finally cast in bronze earlier this year, thanks to a $1,500 donation by Don "Pepper" Smock of Coeur d'Alene/Windermere Realty.

"I appreciated Dr. Fox’s devotion and commitment to the library," Smock said.

Fox was a treasured and prominent local physician who delivered more than 4,000 babies. He was a board member of the Coeur d'Alene Public Library Foundation, an avid library supporter and campaigned for the facility at its current home, 702 E. Front Ave.

He wrote three books, "Family Doctor: Good Advice for Better Health," "Looking Back to the Future, or how the Pendulum Swings," and "The Joy of Healing: That Amazing Mind-Body miracle," all of which are available at the library.

The made-to-scale bust is about 14 inches high, weighs about 40 pounds and will be displayed in the library.

"This is a great tribute to Dr. Fox's legacy and his contribution to the Library Foundation. The library looks forward to sharing it with the community," said a news release.

Smock served 18 years on the library board and six years on the fundraising committee for the new library. He knew Fox and served with him in a local Rotary Club.

It nearly a year ago when Smock recognized Fox in the wax sculpture displayed during an Art Walk show.

He heard Ross say it was unfinished and asked what it would take. Ross said money and Smock responded with a few words: "OK, I'm in," and later donated $1,500."

He liked the finished product.

"It’s a magnificent image of Dr. Fox," Smock said.

Susan Nipp of the library foundation said the bust honors a man who gave much of himself to help the community.

"This is a person we can really honor," she said.

Nipp said the bust could encourage others to see how they can step up.

"It’s good mentorship, too," she said.

Ross said Fox was respected, kind, generous and humble — a good man.

“This is a person we can really honor,” Nipp said.

Ross said he long wanted to do a bust of Fox, but the doctor declined. But with son John Fox — a spittin' image of his father — sitting for him, reviewing videos and photos of Ted Fox, Ross was finally able to do it.

If anyone deserved such a tribute, it was Fox, Ross said.

"He was a mentor to all of us,” Ross added.