Hollis Randol Williford was a highly acclaimed American artist, born in 1940 into a farming family in north central Texas. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 66. Williford's artistic journey began early, sculpting with bars of Ivory soap in his youth. He pursued formal art education at the University of Texas at Arlington, North Texas State University, and the Art Center College of Art & Design in Los Angeles, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970. While skilled in various mediums including pencil, oils, watercolors, and etchings, Williford became most renowned for his bronze sculptures. His work often depicted "living forms in motion," reflecting his deep love for his subjects and a meticulous research process to translate dynamic action into three-dimensional art. He emphasized the importance of design, mass, kinetics, and flow in his pieces. His significant achievements include winning the National Academy of Western Art's gold medal and its prestigious Prix de West Purchase Award in 1980. He earned two more gold medals in 1986 for both his sculpture and drawing of an Eskimo pursuing a caribou herd by kayak. Williford was a rare permanent member of the National Academy of Western Art. One of his most notable works is the thirteen-foot monumental sculpture, "Welcome Sundown," which graces the entrance to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. His works are also held in the permanent collections of other esteemed institutions, including the Thomas Gilcrease Museum, Johns Hopkins University, and Duquesne University. Hollis Williford's legacy is marked by his versatility, creative range, and the profound emotional depth he brought to his art, continuing to inspire and be collected worldwide.