By Lindsey Wray

After sorting through hundreds of photographs, Jim Nance finally found the one.

The one that embodied “warrior ethos.”

The one that exuded “determination and steely-eyed resolve.”

The one that inspired him to create a sculpture of Air Force fighter pilot Robin Olds.

In the photo, Olds is buckling his parachute harness as he prepares to climb into an F-4.

“As an artist, it is an incredible opportunity to honor an American hero,” Nance said.

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The Robin Olds Air Warrior Combat Memorial (AWCM), which represents this “warrior ethos” and lauds those who have served in and supported aerial combat, is slated to open this fall at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The memorial is a gift from the academy's Class of 1971, of which Nance is a member.

Located on a 6-acre site at the Air Force Academy, the memorial will feature Nance's 6-foot, 6-inch sculpture of Olds, along with a replica of an F-4 and a timeline of major events in the first 100 years of aerial combat.

“He was one of the greatest wartime leaders by example in our history,” Nance said of Olds.

After a football career at West Point that landed him in the College Football Hall of Fame, Olds was a triple ace in World War II and Vietnam, downing 16 enemy aircraft among the two wars. He was also the Commandant of Cadets at the Air Force Academy when Nance and his classmates were there. When Olds began his stint at the academy in 1967, a year before his promotion to brigadier general, he instantly boosted morale, said Nance.

“The cadet wing was recharged almost overnight in every way possible,” he said, “and we were proud to be under his command.”

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Even though the idea to honor Olds originated at a Class of 1971 reunion in 2011, four years after Olds died at age 84, the Robin Olds memorial was years in the making. Nance first constructed a small model of the statue in 2012. Following fundraising, location and other challenges, he received the go-ahead last summer.

“It's very satisfying to see a project like the AWCM finally come to fruition,” said Frank Morgan, president of the Class of 1971. Alumni have contributed heavily to the fundraising effort, which has brought in over $1 million to date for the memorial and the statue.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to finally place Robin Olds ... on the revered pedestal he so richly deserves,” Nance said.

Nance is currently in the midst of the enlargement process, which involves sculpting by hand based on the initial model he created. He expects to complete the clay sculpture in the summer. Then, it will be time for his favorite part of the sculpture process: seeing his work “come to life in bronze.”

Sculptor (and Air Force Academy grad) Jim Nance (courtesy photo)

Nance wants visitors to the memorial to leave with “a deeper understanding of the role of airpower in warfare and national security.”

He hopes the memorial will resonate with future generations as well.

“If a young kid visits the memorial and comes away inspired to a life of military service,” he said, “then I think we will have done our job.”

The memorial is expected to open in November. For information or to donate to the project, visit www.airwarrior.org.