'Tin Man' Supporters Flying High as Icon Returns to Rooftop

All eyes turned to the sky Saturday, May 7, as a crane lifted a local icon back to its throne above King Heating and Air Conditioning.

The Tin Man is back.

After it spent four years off the rooftop of the Oak Forest business at 4813 W. 159th St., owner Tim Willson pulled out all the stops to put it back on top.

Supporters turned out in droves for free pizza, pop, music and one last photo opportunity with the famed 88 pounds of sheet metal with two eyes and a perma-smile. They clapped and shouted during his brief homecoming parade from one parking lot, to the 20-ton crane that lifted him above their heads while "The Star Spangled Banner" played. From now on, the 6-foot-6-inch famous hunk of metal will have his eye on Oak Fores from atop the store.

Saturday's celebration marked the end of an . Onlookers cheered and drivers honked as they passed by; inside, supporters grabbed their own "There's No Place Like Home" T-shirts, to match the one donned by the Tin Man.

Before arriving to the party, Oak Forest resident of 22 years Sue Schmidt raced home to throw on her own matching Tin Man duds, including gray face paint. In her haste, she explained, she couldn't find the "tin" hands and feet to match—but she wasn't about to chance being late and missing the big event. She meshed into a cast of other Wizard of Oz characters, including the Lion, Scarecrow, Wizard, and Dorothy.

"I was so upset when it was taken down," Schmidt said. "I've lived here for 22 years. It was a part of us."

Mayor Hank Kuspa applauded Willson for following the proper procedures to secure the variance allowing the return of the Tin Man to the rooftop.

"It was all done correctly and properly, and I want to thank Mr. Willson and so many other local, small businesses owners in town," Kuspa said. "They are the backbone of the city of Oak Forest, and I want to thank him very much for being such a good businessman.

"I'm very happy to see the Tin Man back up."