The Texas Rangers today announced plans for the creation of a statue that will honor Shannon Stone, the Brownwood, Texas firefighter who passed away from injuries suffered in the tragic accident on July 7 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The statue, which is tentatively to be named Rangers Fans, is expected to be in place for the 2012 season. It will depict Mr. Stone and his six-year-old son Cooper attending a Rangers game. The full-size bronze statue is likely to be located outside the home plate gate of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

“We feel that this statue will be a most fitting tribute,” commented Rangers CEO and President Nolan Ryan. “It will not only serve to honor Mr. Stone’s memory but also to recognize Rangers fans and baseball fans everywhere.

“I have discussed the project with Jenny Stone, and she and the Stone family will be involved in the design and creation of the statue.” Jenny Stone issued the following statement:

“We continue to be appreciative of Nolan Ryan and the Texas Rangers as we deal with the loss of Shannon. Shannon and Cooper had a special relationship, and we are touched and grateful that it will be memorialized at one of their favorite places. Our hope is that this statue will not be a symbol of our family tragedy but rather a reminder of the importance of a family’s love – love of each other, love of spending time together, and love of the game.”

The Rangers, who will fund the project, are in the early stages of considering sculptors to design and create the statue.

The statue honoring Mr. Stone will be the third sculpture at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Full size bronze statues of Nolan Ryan and Tom Vandergriff were dedicated in 1997 and are located in the centerfield Vandergriff Plaza.