Ships ahoy! Former Southeast Missouri resident plies waters of retirement as a metal ship sculptor

Former Sikeston native Harold Leible stands with a replica of the Mayflower he created. Since retiring, Leible has created copper ships weighing up to 200 pounds along with other sculptures. Submitted photo

TONGANOXIE, Kan. - A former Sikeston, Mo., native, Harold Leible, 85, has a unique hobby. A passion in metal art propelled him to build 200-pound ships in his home outside Kansas City, Kan.

Leible retired from Tobin Construction of Kansas City, Kan., in 1989, the same year of his first project. He always aspired to be an artist with plans to make use of scrap metal he had collected over time, and his hobby got the jump-start it needed when his former boss asked something of him.

"My boss said 'Lieble, I want you to make my momma something unique for her birthday,'" said Leible. So, six months later, his boss's mother was gifted a small copper ship. He's been busy ever since.

According to Leible, he has created birds and other animals that can be spotted in his neighbors' yards; a couple of eagles feeding their young is displayed on the top of the high school entryway of Basehor, Kan.

Museums, libraries and city halls have displayed some of Leible's masterpieces -- two, 200-pound ships -- a Viking ship and the Mayflower. The ships have moving pieces and the Mayflower even shoots small ball bearings from its cannons.

Leible was inspired after seeing photos of the ships. He liked the sails and thought it was easy enough to build. He makes the sides of the ships by beating copper tubing flat and soldering pieces together. Projects can take from six months to a year to complete.

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