I think this statue is of one of my relatives - honest!

If so, it is of Harry Keener, who was the cousin of my grandpa Ron's grandmother.
Harry Keener was in the Olympics, as a runner.
He also got my Grandpa a membership in the Athletics Club when Grandpa was a boy.

Later, he ran a scrap iron company in Saint Louis.

Have a good run! Nice blog.

Unfortunately the "blood" in the fountain did indeed predict a beating in the race .. Matt easily beat me in this race, running a very impressive time over a tough/hilly course.

Claire .. I was skeptical about your claim of being related to the statue. First .. statue's do not have relatives, they are not real in any way! :-) but .. i did some research and the status is indeed of Harry J. Kiener .. wow, that is cool!

I found this info about him (cool!):
"Kiener Plaza is named in honor of Harry J. Kiener, the donor of the sculpture and fountain. Kiener, who was born in St. Louis on February 27, 1881 was an amateur boxer, wrestler and swimmer, but he is most noted for his position on the U.S. track team at the Olympics held in St. Louis in 1904 during the World's Fair. While his main occupation was a steel company executive, he was very generous throughout his life. He served on the Zoological Board and was active at Shriner's Hospital. Kiener died in 1960 at the age of 80. "

Apparently, when my father was growing up Harry would come over to his house for dinner and stay longer than my great-grandfather thought he should. I only know of him (no, I was not yet born) as "that damn Harry Kiener"

This was interesting-

The model for the statue, interviewed years later.

http://www.stljewishlight.com/blogs/cohn/article_9623df60-ce87-11e0-a134-001cc4c002e0.html

Funny, Harry must have left that imoression on others... The statue was title "that damn Harry"