Todd, bronze Todd, and sculptor Heather Soderberg-Greene.

Todd Kirnan, Coffee Man

Gresham, Oregon

Known locally as "Mister Gresham," or sometimes "Uber on legs," autistic Todd Kirnan is constantly on the move for the city's downtown businesses: getting coffee, going to the post office, taking out trash. Everyone in town knows him -- the mayor had the locker next to his in high school -- and the people of Gresham wanted Todd to know that he was appreciated. So on September 22, 2018, the city gave Todd a street party and parade, a ride in a Batmobile, and the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue of himself, dressed in his familiar #22 Portland Trail Blazers jersey. Sculptor Heather Soderberg-Greene gave Todd the peaceful grin of a Buddhist monk and a take-out tray with four large cups of coffee.

The statue was placed on a street corner where Todd would see it many times a day, and also allow tourists to take photos of bronze Todd and real Todd together.