Published: June 05, 2009 11:45 pm      

Fulton man builds T-Rex

FULTON, Ill. — Larry Foreman, 76, of Fulton, certainly enjoys creating the unique.

“I do things that are unusual, not like everybody else,” said Foreman. “I do it on the spur of the moment, figure out what I want to do and go at it.”

He sells many unique yard ornaments at his business, Larry’s Metal Yard Ornaments, 18955 Elston Road, Fulton. But Foreman has had a variety of jobs and passions throughout his life. Originally from Texas, he built houses as part of a family business, and created furniture and cabinets.

After attending college, Foreman worked in engineering, starting at Alcoa in Point Comfort, Texas. In the 1960s he also worked as an artist, specializing in three-dimensional paintings.

In 1979, Foreman moved to Morrison, Ill., and was working for Chemplex in Clinton.

He also worked for Clinton Foods until 1981. In the meantime, he also had a custom-order furniture business in Fulton.

After working with wood for a good portion of his life, Foreman made the jump to metal many years ago, following a productive day at the flea market in Thomson, Ill.

Foreman said one woman purchased seven barn-board cabinets, putting him out of business for the weekend. He didn’t have any more cabinets or other items for the next week and was unsure what he would do.

Then he came up with an idea to make metal chimes. He made 36 chimes and sold 16 the first weekend. From there he began collecting metal-working equipment and materials. At Larry’s Metal Yard Ornaments, Foreman makes a variety of metal animals and displays. He features items like horseshoe fish, pulley ducks, spiders made from a half of a hay loft trolley and other interesting creations. He also takes custom orders for his work.

Foreman’s most recent project, which was contracted by one of his frequent customers, is a large, half-scale metal T-Rex. This 9-foot-tall structure is made from a variety of metal items and old tools. Most of the teeth in the dinosaur’s mouth are from old rakes. This is the second T-Rex Foreman has constructed.

The first one, which was purchased by the same customer who commissioned this one, was approximately 5 1/2 feet tall. Foreman said he had done a great deal of research into the dimensions of an actual Tyrannosaurus Rex. He said he often does research on his creations and has books about animals, dinosaurs and insects that he uses as references. The current creation is called “T-Rex, The Politician Eater” — an idea suggested by the buyer. From the dinosaur’s mouth dangles the “leg” of ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Soon, Foreman hopes to embark on his greatest project, which will be all for charity. He hopes to construct a full-sized horse entirely from flat wrenches. He said he has had the idea for almost seven years for this project and all proceeds from its sale would go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

“I saw Marlo Thomas on TV campaigning for donations and I thought, ‘Boy, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to help the kids and help the hospital and the parents who couldn’t afford to go stay with the kids.’ That’s when the brainstorming started and you ended up with the idea of making a horse with flat wrenches,” said Foreman.

He said he had seen a horse made of various items, including used crutches, on television, which was auctioned off for charity. He said he thought he remembered a large company purchasing it for $200,000 or more. Foreman said he would hope, with enough publicity, a large company may purchase his horse for a similar price to go to St. Jude’s.

Foreman hopes to have this project completed by May 2010, but said he needs some help from the community. He is asking for donations of money or used flat wrenches. He estimated he will need approximately 1,200 flat wrenches to smoothly shape each joint and feature of the horse. He also could use another anvil and gas forge as he may look into finding another metal worker to help him with the project.

“If anybody out there has one (an anvil or a gas forge) and reads about this, then maybe they’ll furnish one,” said Foreman.

Foreman had another very special request. He needs a live model for his horse. He is asking for someone who owns a horse to let him use their horse for his dimensions. He would prefer a medium-sized horse.

“But I need three pictures. I need a broadside view of the horse with his head up, his ears pointing forward. I need a front and rear view photograph. And whoever will allow me to get pictures of the horse and let it be the model, that they furnish me all the measurements of the horse, that is the critical thing,” said Foreman.

Foreman said he needs to know the size of horseshoes the horse wears. He also needs the diameters of all the joints and length of the various bones of the horse so he can form an accurate structure.

Foreman said he has not yet contacted St. Jude’s but plans to once he is confident the project is actually going to become a reality. He already has 160 flat wrenches he can use to make the hoofs and ankles. First, however, he needs his horse model.

All donations of wrenches can be dropped of at 18955 Elston Road, Fulton. Foreman has also set up Box 222, Fulton, IL, 61252, as a place people may mail any checks made out to “Larry’s Horse Fund.”

Foreman said he estimates the cost of this project may be approximately $8,000 to $10,000. However, he believes he can get it accomplished with the help of the community.

“I have no doubts about people’s generosity once they hear about it, especially when we're talking about children,” said Foreman.