'Bring people together'

STUART — Bill Barringer came from humble beginnings, painting pinstripes on vehicles in the 1950s in Stuart and quickly realized art would be his niche in life. It has taken him many places in his almost eight centuries on this earth, including into a friendship with Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers.

After Sayers passed away Sept. 23, Barringer has been especially reminiscent lately about him, describing him as having a “merciless” running style, being able to switch directions and give off a burst of speed in an instant. Barringer also learned a great deal from knowing Sayers on a personal level.

24th and Lake

After graduating from high school in Stuart, Barringer attended the Omaha Art School. This was right after Sayers, who was from a rough area at 24th and Lake Streets in Omaha, had been a standout athlete at Omaha Central High School and had gone on to play at the University of Kansas, passing up the chance to play at the University of Nebraska because he had not been named the city’s best player his senior year.

Barringer had to paint a famous sports figure for one of his classes. He chose Sayers and then decided to mail that painting to Sayers in Lawrence. He received a note back showing Sayers’ appreciation of the gesture.

Brian’s Song

A time later, Barringer took a call from Sayers, who wanted him to paint some more for him. That’s when Sayers relayed to Barringer the story of his friendship with Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at age 26.

Sayers, who was Black, had roomed with Piccolo, a white man, because of a new policy the Bears had at the time where position groups roomed together, regardless of race. Piccolo and Sayers’ relationship will forever be remembered in the movie “Brian’s Song.”

“The phone rang, and the lady on the other end said, ‘Mr. Barringer, would you stay on the line for Gale Sayers?’ I said, ‘Do you mean the football player?’ and she said ‘Yes,’ so I stayed on,” Barringer said. “That’s when he relayed the ‘Brian’s Song’ message to me. I was on the phone listening with the man himself telling me how much Brian Piccolo meant to him.”

Barringer accepted the offer and created three more paintings for Sayers. One was a smaller portrait, one was a larger action shot and the third was a dual-sided painting, one half white and the other black, showing Piccolo with a smile and Sayers with a tear running down his cheek mourning his friend’s death.

When they were finished, Barringer delivered the paintings to Sayers. They shared drinks and were able to get to know each other in person for the first time. Later on, the two exchanged letters and talked occasionally on the phone. Barringer also visited Sayers when he became the athletic director at Southern Illinois University from 1976 to 1981.

A letter from Sayers in 2000, just before New Year’s Day, wished Barringer and his family a Happy New Year and reported that his computer business had taken off quite well after he retired from sports.

Other paintings

Barringer has painted countless famous people throughout his career. His painting of Wisconsin running back and 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne is still on display in the trophy case at the University of Wisconsin. He has painted former Minnesota Vikings safety Karl Kassulke, 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick, actor James Dean, country music legend Merle Haggard and once did a Sony Music album cover for the country band Black Hawk. For a time, he was commissioned to paint for the Variety Children’s Charity.

Through all of these, perhaps the closest connection Barringer has had to any of his subjects is the one he had with Sayers.

“It was a great privilege for me to [know Gale]. The race thing really didn’t enter, but he’s Black and I’m a caucasian. I mentioned that one time to him and he said, ‘Don’t worry, Bill. That’s crazy.’ Gale was like that,” Barringer said. “He didn’t like the division, he wanted to bring people together.”