Who was that bearded man? Police have an answer

Concrete bust found along I-275 this morning. [Dirk Shadd | Times]

ST. PETERSBURG -- So who is the mystery man at the north toll booth of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge?

It turns out to be Richard H. Misener, the marine construction magnate and mayor and key player in the development of what is now St. Pete Beach. He's also the namesake of the Richard H. Misener Bridge where the bust was found.

Unfortunately, a  motorist mistook the bust of Misener for the stolen bust of Ybor City icon and Columbia restaurant matriarch Adela Gonzmart this morning, prompting a media frenzy. St. Petersburg police say one cameraman was nearly hit by a passing car. Authorities asked camera crews to leave after a crowd gathered and traffic slowed.

"We were disappointed this was not our statue," said Angela Geml, marketing director for Columbia Restaurant.  "We were hoping Adela could be brought home."

St. Petersburg police say the concrete bust, which measures about two and a half feet  tall, was glued on top of the concrete abutment of the bridge with some type of brown epoxy, which was still wet. The Florida Department of Transportation chiseled the bust from the concrete abutment without damaging the bridge or the bust.

Officers found the name of the artist, Joseph Ierna, stamped on the back of the bust. With the help of a local statute company, they identified the bust as that of Richard H. Misener, who is interred in a mausoleum at Woodlawn Memory Gardens at 101 58th Street South in St. Petersburg.

Officers visited the cemetery and found a bronze bust of Misener at his mausoleum. The bronze bust and the concrete bust from the bridge appear very similar, and they may have come from the same mold.

Police are trying to make contact with a member of the Misener family to see if the bust was stolen.

-- Abhi Raghunathan and Casey Cora, Times staff writers

Comments

Where is the Dick Misener bridge?

The smaller bridge to the north that leads to the Skyway Bridge.

[TC]

Maybe it's Dick Misener! I don't think they should "chip" it off the bridge, leave it. There are a LOT more unsightly things than a sculpture of a bust on the roadways these days!

[loser]

It's a artists' rendering of Abe Lincoln. With-out hair and after a 1 year membership to Gold's.

[Jon]

Maybe they could leave the art and concentrate on picking up trash?

I think it adds and element of beauty to the otherwise mundane highway trek. Looks like a wise philosopher and perhaps guards against bridge jumpers.

[Mo]

I wonder if the two statue incidents are related. What did they use to "glue" it? It would have to be someone equipped to move something of this size and nature and know what to use to "glue" it. Too funny..and I'd rather ponder this than some of the other garbage in the news. I think he should stay until they find where he belongs.

[mike talley]

Wow those guys were fast!!!!

[Denise]

Looks like Marty Culp-

[Speedy G]

Don't be fools people! My radar detector lit up when i drove by it. Nice try FHP.

[jOker]

Pull his head back and the door to the BATCAVE opens.

[Brittany]

I'm going venture to guess that some kids put it there as a prank. It looks to be maybe a greek God person. And I think its a great extra to the bridge! It's funny that they have to Chip it off...

It actually looks pretty similar to the Dick Misener bust from Woodlawn Memory Gardens. I think the one on his grave is metal, but it looks like the same guy.

[Ted]

Funny how they are faster doing that than filling potholes.

[JOhn]

C'mon people! It's Malcolm Glazer reminding you that he's expecting your ticket renewal soon...and don't ask about his lack of free agent spending! Everyone knows all the money we pay to see the Bucs is going into Manchester United!

[bob]

Looks a lot like Ned from the BTLS show.

[rowdy]

Byron Kilbourn from Sarasota?

[scott]

I wish they would leave it....the world could use a bit more (he)art.

What?? That's abust of DExter Twooms,that courageous member of the Florida DOT who actually bent over with tape measure so we would know the exact distance to the work site. He lost his life in the line of duty because of an elderly woman in a big Lincoln returning from the eye doctor.The bust is great, his grave is marked with only an orange traffic cone.

[Ed]

Deputies are searching for a missing 80-year-old man who is said to suffer from dementia.

Around 5:48 p.m, a neighbor reported Frank Liptock of 10511 Florence Ave. in Thonotosassa, left in his gold Saturn, saying he was going to get gasoline.

But Liptock never returned. He is white, about 5-foot-5, weighing 125 pounds with eyeglasses and balding gray hair. He was last seen wearing blue pants, a white and blue shirt and a white hat

Maybe this is the guy they are looking for. Look at that. 2 crimes solved at once.

[The Count]

U Idiots Its Ned from the Bubba the Love Sponge Show

[Sean]

Sorry! I knew I dropped my Pez dispenser somewhere...