Blair Buswell is a happy man. As the chief sculptor of the busts for the Pro Football Hall of Fame — his dream job — Buswell is usually beaming as he sits with a player or coach to mold his likeness. But he offers each of them one piece of advice before beginning the process: Don’t smile.
“Bronze teeth don’t look very good,” Buswell said. “It’s probably not best to do the big open smile because you’ll have dark brown teeth.”
Of course, some players would not be themselves without showcasing their trademark smiles, and Buswell is always happy to oblige. In 2004, Buswell meticulously shaped and reshaped John Elway’s two front teeth after the quarterback initially said they looked like Chiclets. Last year, he took care to measure the famous gap in Michael Strahan’s teeth for accuracy.
“I expected that Michael Strahan wanted the gap in his teeth,” Buswell said, “but in our first meeting I always say it’s better not to have an open smile, but I’ll do it if you want me to.”
Read the full article at ESPN, including his friendship with fellow BYU alum Steve Young.
Buswell has also sculpted President Thomas S. Monson. Watch the video of his “most cherished work” below!
Aleah is a graduate of Southern Virginia University, where she studied English, Creative Writing, and Dance. She now works full time as a marketing and product manager, writer, and editor. She currently hosts the podcast “Single to the Glory” about singlehood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aleah served a mission in California and loves baking, Lang Leav poetry, Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, and Bollywood movies.
