SARASOTA, Fla. — In Sarasota, a son of the circus is doing right by his legendary mom.
Bill Powell is the chair and CEO of the Circus Ring of Fame, a free attraction on St. Armands Circle that celebrates the Big Top's best and brightest.
His mother, Gee Gee Engesser, was a circus legend, an equestrienne and an animal trainer who entertained millions with her bold, brave showstopping.
Engresser has a beautiful tribute on the Circus Ring of Fame, as do more than 170 others, including John Ringling and P.T. Barnum.
But a punishing hurricane season devastated St. Armands Circle, which goes for the circus folk, too.
So Powell and a very handyman named Mike Fields are embarking on a painstaking mission: to offset the damage from flooding and saltwater by restoring the historical circus tributes.
"Mother Nature plays havoc on these things," says Powell.
"It is literally a race against time right now," says Powell.
Sand-blasting, painting, lettering: Each metallic tribute is pulled from a cement base and driven 45 minutes to Nokomis, at Mike's house, where tender love and care are shown to the performer's legacy.
For more on the Circus Ring of Fame — to explore interactive pictures and videos of the performers or even to donate to the cause — go here.
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