CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Downtown Clarksville will soon have a new statue to honor one of the city’s most famous citizens, actor, veteran, and Clarksville native, Frank Sutton. Sutton is probably best remembered for his role as Sgt. Vince Carter on the “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” TV show.
Mark Holleman with Coldwell Banker, Conroy, Marable & Holleman said he and one of his agents, Pat Powers, who is a distant relative of Sutton, were talking about Sutton and wondered why Clarksville didn’t have something for the famous star and decided to take it on as a company project.
Around a year ago fundraising efforts were organized by Holleman and Powers and the plans were laid out for a statue honoring Sutton. Around $60,000 has been raised by investors and private donations and at this time the statue is in the stages of being created.
Artist Scott Wise, who is also the artist behind other statues downtown like the one of John Montgomery, was chosen as the sculptor for the statue. Along with his artistic talents, Wise is also a Firefighter with Clarksville Fire Rescue.
For its location, since he was a famous actor, Holleman said it was decided to put it downtown across from the Roxy Theatre. The statue will be placed next to the bench near the Roxy on Franklin Street and will allow for public interaction. Holleman said they are hoping to have the statue ready to be unveiled downtown sometime in March of next year.
His character, Sgt. Carter, was well known for always raising his voice at people on the TV show. It was decided an appropriate pose would be one of him appearing to be screaming at someone sitting on the bench which allows visitors to have their photo made while supposedly being yelled at by Carter.
Sutton was born in Clarksville in 1923 and served in the Army in the Pacific during WWII, and during the war attained the rank of Sergeant. Sutton appeared in movies and on stage along with television. He died in 1974 at the age of 50 from a heart attack in Shreveport, Louisiana where he was appearing in a stage play.
Sutton is buried in Greenwood Cemetery and the library at nearby Norman Smith Elementary School on Greenwood Ave. is named in his honor.