Kilgore Library's Wooden Owl Returned After 50 Years

The beloved library mascot was stolen in 1975 but has finally come home.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:12pm

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After going missing from the Kilgore Public Library in 1975, a wooden owl statue that had presided over the library's entrance since 1939 has been returned. The owl's disappearance was a mystery for decades until the family of the alleged thief, who had passed away, returned the owl as the man's dying wish.

Why it matters

The wooden owl had become an iconic symbol of the Kilgore Public Library, and its disappearance was a long-standing source of curiosity and disappointment in the community. Its return after 50 years is a heartwarming story that celebrates the library's history and the power of making amends.

The details

The original wooden owl statue was installed when the Kilgore Public Library building was constructed in 1939. It sat atop the library's roof overlooking the main road until 1975, when it was taken. Two weeks ago, the library director received a call from someone saying a family member had taken the owl all those years ago, and it was the man's dying wish for the owl to be returned.

  • The original wooden owl was installed in 1939 when the library building was constructed.
  • The owl went missing from the library's roof in 1975.
  • The owl was returned to the library two weeks ago as the alleged thief's dying wish.

The players

Kilgore Public Library

A public library in Kilgore, Texas that has been in operation since 1939 and is home to the iconic wooden owl statue.

Stacey Cole

The director of the Kilgore Public Library who organized the ceremony to unveil the returned wooden owl.

Ronnie Spradlin

The mayor of Kilgore, Texas who said a man he knew confessed to stealing the owl decades ago.

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What they’re saying

“He was originally installed when the building was built in 1939. From 1939 to 1975 he sat on our roof overlooking 259. And in 1975 he was taken.”

— Stacey Cole, Kilgore Public Library Director

“It was his dying wish for the owl to be returned to the library where it belonged.”

— Stacey Cole, Kilgore Public Library Director

“He and a buddy climbed up and borrowed the owl.”

— Ronnie Spradlin, Kilgore Mayor

What’s next

The library director hopes the return of the original wooden owl will inspire the return of a second owl statue that went missing in the 1980s. No questions will be asked if the second owl is brought back.

The takeaway

The return of the Kilgore Public Library's iconic wooden owl after 50 years is a heartwarming story that celebrates the power of making amends and the importance of preserving local history and community landmarks.