Johnny Kaw, a fictitious and larger-than-life pioneer farmer who dug the Kaw River Valley, planted wheat, invented sunflowers, grew giant potatoes, and controlled the weather, was created by KSU professor George Filinger in 1955 as the Kansas answer to Paul Bunyan. In 1966 a 30-foot-tall steel structure of Johnny Kaw was erected in City Park. There he stands with giant scythe in hand, gazing out at all who pass by.