By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
Hoover Auditorium was one of Dwight King’s favorite places in Lakeside. Now, a hand-carved wooden eagle stands at the back of the venue in his memory, honoring his favorite bird and his connection the historic building.
King passed away in May 2025, one week before his 84th birthday. His son, Warren, said the family initially considered a metal sculpture similar to those found in Lakeside’s Memorial Garden, where Dwight is laid to rest. During the search, Warren discovered a Facebook page for Elite Carving, owned by Chauncey Poe of Altamont, Kansas.
“That just caught my attention,” Warren said. “I know it would have caught my dad’s attention. I has one made and picked it up in April to bring to Lakeside. The thing to do in dad’s memory was to get that eagle.”
The Craft Behind the Carving
Poe has nearly two decades of chainsaw carving experience, but his interest began with a simple experiment. As a child, he helped his father cut firewood. Years later, after attending a chainsaw carving event, he decided to give it a try.
“I had seen chainsaw carvings before,” Poe said. “For some reason, when I saw this one, a light bulb went off in my head, and I thought, ‘I know I can do this.’”
He went home, found a log and used a small chainsaw to carve a wizard. His first attempt was a success. Eighteen years later, what started as an experiment has grown into a rewarding hobby alongside his career with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Poe’s carvings range from animals and dragons to familiar characters like the Grinch and Donald Trump. He also handles all the painting, carefully selecting colors to bring each piece to life.
“I used to do it for fun, then I tried selling them,” Poe said. “It was hard at first to reach the right people, but I kept going because it was fun and felt like therapy. It turned into an obsession. It’s just a blessing.”
The eagle is Poe’s most requested carving and, in his opinion, his most challenging. Each sculpture features 3′ wings attached separately with wooden dowel rods. Shaping the talons, getting the feather proportions right and creating realistic eyes can take several days. Over the years, he has continued refining his technique, eventually developing life-sized carvings.
“There’s a lot to an eagle,” Poe said. “I finally told myself that if I’m going to be a carver, I have to make eagles and I want to be the best at it.”
Remembering Dwight King
Dwight was a longtime Lakesider, Air Force veteran and accomplished business professional. He worked for Electronic Data Systems (EDS) from 1970-1998 before serving as Managing Director of Telstra in Australia and New Zealand. He retired in 2002.
He was also known for his love of gardening and his reputation as the neighborhood “Fix-It Guy.”
During his career, Dwight worked for Ross Perot, the 1992 presidential candidate who founded EDS in Dallas. the company’s official symbol was an eagle, further fueling Dwight’s interest in the bird. He collected eagles in many forms, including porcelain and glass pieces displayed throughout his home.
The new carving in Hoover Auditorium also features a personal touch, with a portion of Dwight’s favorite hymn, “On Eagle’s Wings,” inscribed on a plaque at its base.
Warren said Hoover Auditorium was a fitting location for the tribute, giving his father’s passion to the building’s restoration.
“He always talked about rebuilding Hoover,” Warren said. “He tried to get it up and running and built it to the next level. He loved eagles and Hoover, so that all makes sense. I think it’s the best place for this tribute.”
