Redenbacher statue unveiled in Indiana

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VALPARAISO, Ind., Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The Indiana hometown of Orville Redenbacher unveiled a bronze statue of the popcorn magnate as part of the city's annual Popcorn Festival.

The city of Valparaiso unveiled the bronze statue of Redenbacher Tuesday in Central Park Plaza before a crowd including city officials, Redenbacher family members and a few hundred residents, The Northwest Indiana Times reported Wednesday.

"Today we pay tribute to a wonderful Valparaiso success story," said Mayor Jon Costas, who donned a red-sequined bow tie in tribute to Redenbacher, who died in 1995. "Orville Redenbacher and his partner Charlie Bowman put Valparaiso on the map with their extraordinary popcorn and its extraordinary name."

Redenbacher's daughter, Gail Tuminello, addressed the crowd at the unveiling.

"My dad would have loved it," she said of the statue. "I think it's an asset to the downtown park."