Lights out at DMC lighthouse
On June 7 the Del Mar Lighthouse was demolished by Camacho Demolition, after having been donated by the late Dusty Durrill in 2007.
Dusty Durrill started a foundation in the name of his daughter Devary, who was killed in October 1978 when her Ford Mustang II burst into flames when rear-ended. Durill filed a lawsuit against Ford, won, and started a trust in his daughter’s name with the settlement. It was through the Devary Durrill Foundation that he donated many of the sculptures and artwork that Corpus Christi is known for, including the Mirador de la Flor and Selena statue on the bayfront, the Fallen Heroes Memorial in front of the Nueces County Courthouse, and the Wind Dancer sculpture in Cole Park.
Dusty’s only son Bill Durrill is now the head of the foundation and continues to carry on the legacy of his father and sister through his work with the trust.
“It was a love project for my father,” Bill Durrill said, speaking about the lighthouse. “We were proud of it.”
Matthew Busby, Vice President of Development and Donor Advising and Jeff Olsen, Vice President of Communications and Marketing, discussed the Center for Economic Development’s pursuit of their goal of the continued beautification of every Del Mar campus.
“It had degraded over the years,” Busby said. “It had become a safety concern, and because of engineering couldn’t be moved.”
It was demolished in conjunction with the Memorial Classroom Building in June. Busby made sure to give Bill Durrill a call before it was taken down.
“I maintain relationships, connections, and contacts with the Durrills,” Busby said. “The Durrill family believe in the beautification of the city.”
Moving forward, the Center for Economic Development hopes to replace the Lighthouse with a new art piece, which at this moment is planned to be a nine-foot tall, 3D version of the DMC logo that adorns many business cards, brochures, and buildings across every Del Mar campus.
“Something where students can go and take pictures, something very Instagram-friendly,” Olsen said. “We’re in talks with the architect who helped draw up [General Academic and Music Building], and we’ll get some estimates on getting it built.”
Regarding the fallen lighthouse, Bill Durill says he understands the college’s decision to move away from the lighthouse.
“Things change, people have different plans, and I don’t hold a grudge. We were proud of it and understand that Del Mar is growing.”
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