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Sculpture Tumble to be Dedicated to Late Downtown Business Owner

City of Springfield

The Tumbler sculpture on Park Central Square will get its annual summertime tumble tomorrow.  And the event will be dedicated to the late Coffee Ethic owner, Tom Billionis.  Billionis, a passionate supporter of downtown Springfield business development, died in April.  Tomorrow would have been his 45th birthday.

The sculpture is scheduled to be tumbled tomorrow morning (6/21) at 7:30. 

Springfield Public Works Assistant Director Martin Gugel says Billionis was excited when city officials learned the sculpture is supposed to be tumbled every season.  The sculpture is located not far from The Coffee Ethic, and Gugel says the dedication is “a fitting way to honor his memory, especially on his birthday.”

The Tumbler was created by sculptor Aris Demetrios.  It was installed on the square in 1971 and is regarded as Springfield’s first piece of modern art, according to the City of Springfield.  In recent years, the city learned that the sculpture was intended to be re-oriented or “tumbled” every season to create a new piece of art.

Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.