Local signmaker puts his stamp on 2010 KTD button

• New button design

Brian Korthals/Daily Globe Rod Harvey, Worthington, shows off the 2010 King Turkey Day button he designed featuring a running Paycheck holding a wing full of cash.

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WORTHINGTON — It’s always the first sign that King Turkey Day is right around the corner — the buttons have arrived.

King Turkey Day buttons are now available at banks and businesses throughout Worthington.

“It’s one of the biggest fundraisers we have for King Turkey Day,” noted KTD President Vida Iten. “Buying a button is very important to the celebration, and we hope that everyone will participate in it.”

The KTD button is also one of the most enduring aspects of the festival, along with the pancake breakfast and parade, all dating back to its inception more than 70 years ago.

This year’s button depicts the celebration theme, “Our Paycheck Still Remains Strong,” featuring a buff-looking bird strutting down the street clutching money in his feathers.

“I believe (KTD board member) Jason Turner came up with this year’s theme,” credited Iten, “tying it in to the way the economy has been.”

The artwork was created by Rod Harvey, owner of Harvey’s Signs, and it’s the first time his artwork has been chosen to represent Worthington’s annual shindig.

“One of the committee members asked if I’d draw up something, so I gave it a shot,” Harvey explained. “I’ve done a couple of other ones, but this is the first one that’s gotten selected.”

A Worthington native, Harvey started painting professionally in 1971 under the guidance of the late Lyle Storey. He later went into the sign business on his own, leaving Worthington for a few years, and then returning two and a half years ago and setting up shop on Kragness Avenue.

Although Harvey has sketched for most of his life, creating a button design was a “little different” from anything he’d previously undertaken. The artwork must be eye-catching and easily discernible in the small button space.

“And since it’s the (KTD) board that decides it, that’s quite a few people to critique it,” Harvey added.

Harvey created several versions of his Paycheck renderings, taking suggestions from the board members. In his original drawing, Paycheck was crossing a finish line, holding up his feathers on one wing to form the No. 1. The final edition has the name “Paycheck” in place of the finish line banner, and his feathered fist is full of dollar bills.

“I just used my own imagination,” he said about the image he created. “I’ve had drawings around for quite a few years, and I took the best part of those and put them together.”

A larger rendition of Harvey’s drawing will be used on T-shirts, slated to arrive closer to the Sept. 18 festival date. On the T-shirt design, Paycheck is flanked by buildings — rival Cuero, Texas, on the left, Worthington establishments on the right.

While growing up in Worthington, Harvey can remember attending KTD back to the year Bobby Kennedy was the featured speaker (1966), and he’s excited to have his artwork featured on items promoting the annual celebration.

“That’s the part that’s carried through from day one,” he said about the button, “and now I’m part of it. It’s a good feeling.”

Each KTD button comes with a coupon book featuring specials at local businesses. Buttons are required for entry into the KTD Mixer event Sept. 16 at Pioneer Village.

Tags: king turkey day, news, worthington, button, design