Confederate memorial rock may get new home soon
October 15, 1974

The Columbia Daily Tribune, Mark Noblin

The city’s Confederate Rock remains homeless on a trailer at the old airport 
park, but a move is under way to give it a new resting place on the Boone County 
Courthouse lawn.

City Manager Terry Novak recently ordered the rock moved from its original site 
on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus at the intersection of Conley 
Avenue and Ninth Street after complaints from black students that the rock was a 
racist symbol.

Since then, the city has cleaned the rock, but it remains on a low boy trailer 
at the airport park.

Meanwhile, other interested persons are looking for a suitable site for the 
rock, donated to the city by the Daughters of the American Confederacy.

A Steering Committee recently reviewed the idea of placing the rock in Nifong 
Park, but decided to give the matter further study after member Jack Matthews, 
also a member of the Boone County Historical Society, noted that the plaque on 
the rock says it is “To honor the valor and patriotism of the Confederate 
soldiers of Boone County” – not just Columbia Confederates.

Presiding County Court Judge James Butcher said today Novak talked with him 
about the possibilities of placing the rock on the courthouse lawn.  But Butcher 
said no formal requests have been made.  

If a request is made, Butcher said the decision on the rock would be made in an 
open county court session.