Hand-carved wooden panther donated to Porterville High School

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KFSN) -- Porterville High School shared some really big news on their Facebook page - a 1967 graduate donated a 400-pound wooden panther statue that will stay on the campus for many years to come.

Alumnus Jeff Jones (class of '67) gifted the 400-pound statue in honor of the PHS 50th class reunion.

"I have been a wood carver my whole life and carving a statue like this for the school is something that has always been on my bucket list," Jones said in the Facebook post.

Jones? wife and PHS alumna ('69), Jackie, documented the project from start to finish and donated all of the photos to the school.

The statue will be put on permanent display in the Library Media Center.