ALEXANDRIA, Ind. (WTHR) — What does it take for a person to leave a legacy that lasts? What kind of determination does it take to achieve, to persist, to not give up the fight?
Mike Carmichael and his wife, Glenda, have that determination and have included all of us to take part in a record. It is a mark that will continue to grow and more than likely, will never be broken.
Photographer Steve Rhodes and I traveled the county roads of Alexandria to see something we had only heard about — the World's Largest Ball Of Paint. Glenda met us at the door and took us inside a building that was built especially to house this, well, this thing. It is not ball-shaped anymore, since the weight has caused it to bulge at the bottom, but it is still a wonder.
This vision, dream and achievement started in 1977 when he encouraged his young son to cover a baseball with a coat of blue house pain.
Forty-two years later, it's now 14 feet in circumference and weighs more than two-and-a-half tons.
Tens of thousands have taken a shot at painting it including, more recently, celebrities like the Oak Ridge Boys and Bill Gaither. It is really wonderful to see in person and actually, a lot of fun to paint.
During our visit I got a chance to paint, and wanting to leave my mark, I covered it in orange. (My black Cole Haan shoes got painted a bit too!) Everybody who paints the ball gets recorded in a book, has a photo taken and is presented with a certificate showing that they too, were record holders, if only for a bit.
Thanks Mike for the dream, for not giving up and for letting us be a part of it!
Please call ahead for an appointment, don't just show up. Phone: 765-724-4088