In Memory of Roger Klein
In Memory of Roger Klein 04/04/38 to 09/28/20
A toast to artist Jim Hatzell. Thanks for your generous gift of our Can Man images!
Announcing Jim Hatzell's Rendering of 'Can Man', Roger Klein
In January the Can Man Trade Scholarship Fund (in memory of Roger Klein) had one of our ‘someday’ wishes come true. Back in 2021, when Jacki Lockwood and Dusty Pence were organizing the Can Man Fund, they imagined having an image of Roger Klein. They wanted something respectful but also fun that could adorn tee shirts and other merchandise, honor and remember Roger and of course help raise more scholarship dollars.
Soon others came on board and the group continued to toss around ideas. Jacki suggested that she ask her artist friend, Jim Hatzell, if he would consider donating his time. After seeing samples of Jim’s work, everyone agreed that if Jim would do it, they could be confident of having just the right piece of artwork for their purposes.
Hatzell attended the American Academy of Art and then began work, ranging from cowboy to railroad man to freelance artist in Europe. His eventual enlistment in the USAF brought him to Rapid City, where he was stationed at Ellsworth AFB.
After mustering out of the Air Force, Hatzell went back to Chicago but found himself longing to return to the high plains of South Dakota. When he had saved up a solid grubstake he returned to Rapid City and soon was earning enough to survive as a freelance artist. In 1989, he was hired to ride horses on the movie Dances with Wolves and soon was making more money sketching cast and crew than the movie job paid. His art and movie careers both grew, with jobs ranging from wrangler to costumer, prop production to armorer; and of course, always, sketching and freelancing.
Among his many ventures, Hatzell currently coordinates Fiddlers Green Productions, an annual gathering of artists that provides opportunities to capture images of the old west. Hatzell coordinates the event to include western settings, complete with models dressed in period costumes. Photographers, painters and sculptors come together to collaborate and gather inspiration for their projects.
Jacki Lockwood has known Hatzell since 1989, when both were on the Centennial Wagon Train, and eventually began helping him prepare for the Fiddlers gathering, even dressing in vintage clothing to help create the old west atmosphere for the photo shoots.
“Jacki is a long time friend,” Hatzell said. “She helped me so much getting my August photo shoot together, I can never pay her back. When she asked me to draw a caricature of the Can Man I was just glad I could help.”
Hatzell’s image of Roger Klein, standing with his bike and trailer full of cans, was inspired by a photograph of Roger taken by Kathleen Matthews of Spearfish; Hatzell added the smile and the can in Roger’s hand.
“I like to think that Roger is toasting the town in Jim’s rendition,” said Lockwood. “He is thanking you all for supporting the scholarship fund. That big smile is because he is so happy to see what the community has created in his memory. And if you look real close, you can see the addition we made—the Can Man logo on Roger’s can!”
You can expect to soon see tee shirts with Roger’s image and perhaps other fun merchandise going forward, all to benefit the Can Man Trade Scholarship Fund! If you want to help out, drop them a line at canman@goldenwest.net or talk to any of the board members: Jacki Lockwood, Tom and Donna Merrill, Dusty Pence and Hal Glanville.
In the meantime, scholarship applications are available for the 2024 scholarship awards. Tell your friends, tell your kids. There are no age restrictions.
