 Recently Ray Preston of KMOV, channel 4, did a story, which can still be viewed on line; “St Louis Proud: The Story Behind Merferd.” Ray spent an entire morning with my art and Arborculture Apprentices, Christopher Smith, Nehemiah Stone, and myself. THIS story begins with the DRIVE NICE sign on highway 70. One night a man in a tinted widow car road raged one of my daughters on the lawless strip of 70 between the Arch and our city of Ferguson. So I painted Merferd saying “DRIVE NICE!” This sign lasted for three years …  … until Merferd’s old enemies the LOW DOWNS, a graffiti gang, found a way up and tagged over him.  Two homeless friends got up on the roof and painted it white again. St Louis’ homeless love Merferd, and Merferd loves them.  My apprentices, 15 years old Nehemiah (from the south side), and 14 year old Christopher of Berkley, hung around with me for several days …  WHAT was Merferd going to say? He initially was going to say “Welcome to Missouri.”  After discussion with Alderman Bandon Frazier-Bosely, (who is sick at heart with all the crime and murder in north St. Louis), and consulting with a couple other friends … … He is presently saying “FATHER” along with “Malachi 4:6”.  The West side of the Billboard plugs a St Louis band of a friend of mine. 
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