Doughboy damaged in tornado is restored - 14 News, WFIE, Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro

Doughboy damaged in tornado is restored

Posted: Updated:
WEST LIBERTY, Ky. (AP) -

The restoration of a World War I doughboy statue that was severely damaged when tornadoes hit eastern Kentucky last year is essentially complete.

Morehead artists Stephen Tirone and Eddie Horton told the Lexington Herald-Leader that the doughboy is ready to return to duty in West Liberty. The statue had stood outside the Morgan County courthouse for 85 years when tornadoes devastated the town last March.

The statue was torn from its pedestal and broken into several pieces. After weeks of searching, most of the pieces were found and Tirone and Horton began a months-long process to restore the statue.

Tirone said the restoration is "about 99 percent complete" with only a few minor items left - such as "a really good cleanup."

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)