I.E. Millstone – portrait of a great man
This story was originally published in March, 2008.
An historic event took place on Feb. 27, 2008 in the Chesterfield studio of famed sculptor Don Wiegand: the unveiling of Ladue philanthropist I.E. Millstone’s portrait sculpture, the result of a year of photo shoots, personal interviews, clay sculpting, pouring of silicone gels, and anticipation.
In attendance were some of Millstone’s friends and associates, including Jewish Community Center (JCC) President and CEO Lynn D. Wittels and JCC Chairman Michael Staenberg, one of a number of people instrumental in funding the project. They and others had come to pay tribute to Millstone and witness the removal of his portrait sculpture’s mother mold.
Widely recognized for his community and corporate leadership, Millstone, 101, is a lifelong supporter of St. Louis cultural, educational and religious institutions, including the JCC, The United Way, Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Missouri Historical Society. He is founder of St. Louis-based Millstone Construction Co., builder of numerous downtown landmarks such as Busch Memorial Stadium, Mercantile Tower and the Federal Building, as well as many area roadways, parks and shopping centers. Millstone’s generosity was instrumental in the development of Laclede’s Landing and various neighborhood revitalizations. Millstone’s name graces the JCC’s Creve Coeur campus, and he co-chaired the renovation of JCC’s Marilyn Fox Building in Chesterfield. He also has funded 60 annual scholarships to Washington University, his alma mater.
Millstone remains sharp, witty, charming and active in the construction industry. He still drives daily to his St. Charles office, where he keeps his fingers on the pulse of company jobs.
When Millstone’s facial image was revealed, he gazed carefully at the plaster form and asked, “Does this look like me?”
Responding in unison, guests assured him that it did.
“Don (Wiegand) is the one who decided how I should be remembered – my face smiling or that of the serious, businessman side of me,” Millstone said.
The original clay portrait underneath showed a bit of both, a very slight smile softening a composed face.
Wiegand discussed the interviews and sittings that led to the sculpture.
“Mr. Millstone personally knew the Rat Pack, and I learned he enjoyed watching ‘Dean Martin Roasts,’ so we viewed those videos during our sittings,” Wiegand said. “His smiles and laughter helped me capture that inner side of I.E.’s character and makeup.”
Des Peres resident Whitney R. Harris, 95, a prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials of 1945-46 who has had his own sculpture portrait done by Wiegand, interjected: “Don doesn’t glamorize you a bit,” and added, “I see a person of relaxed character, not aggressive – a strong man.”
“I agree with Whitney,” Wiegand said. “There’s a sense of confidence in his face. The eyes tell the whole story of what Mr. Millstone has done in his lifetime. Much of his knowledge is there to behold. He’s a visionary looking ahead with a relaxed, poised smile.”
“I.E. looks as if he knows he’s leaving St. Louis a better place,” Wittels said.
The Millstone portrait sculpture eventually will be installed at the JCC’s Millstone Campus in Creve Coeur.
