A legacy in color: Remembering Rudy Calooy, Jr.

By Shanna Grote

The Belton Journal

Rudy Anthony Calooy Jr., the artist who transformed the massive stretch of concrete along the east side of Belton Dam, died on Nov. 22, 2025. Calooy believed art should belong to everyone, and his work lives on as one of the most recognizable landmarks in Belton.

The mural at Belton Dam has been part of the backdrop of daily lake life in Central Texas for decades. Visitors see it from across Belton Lake, and children grow up recognizing its colors and scenes. However, few know the full story of how it came to be.

Calooy was a young artist who envisioned something far greater than a single work of art when he took on the oversized project.

The Belton Dam mural project began in July 1978, when Calooy was a student at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The project was coordinated through the City of Belton in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the dam and lake. Faculty members at the university supervised and organized the project, encouraging students—especially in the art department—to submit design concepts. Calooy’s proposal was selected, and he was awarded the project.

His design was grand in both scale and spirit. Calooy planned an 800-foot paint-by-number mural depicting scenes from Bell County history and envisioned public participation as an important part of the project. Large-scale public art projects were rare in the area at the time, and his idea was unconventional. Rather than working behind scaffolding with a closed crew, Calooy designed the mural so that anyone and everyone could take part in completing it. Students, families, community leaders, and visitors were invited to pick up a brush and fill in the color-coded panels.

Coverage from the Belton Journal in the late 1970s documents the mural’s progress in real time. Headlines boasted large volunteer turnouts and visits from public officials. One article noted that the project faced major challenges due to regional paint shortages caused by the 1970s energy crisis. Volunteers returned day after day, completing sections of the mural as supplies became available. Their dedication showed just how deeply invested the community had become in the project.

A mural of this size was not completed overnight. The work took more than a year and a half to finish, and by the time it was complete, hundreds of people had contributed. The mural became more than a work of art—it became a shared community experience.

For many residents, the memory of painting the dam became a memory built into the finished piece. Parents brought their children, friends painted side by side, and the mural left a permanent mark not only on the structure but on the people who helped create it.

The mural depicts scenes from Bell County’s past, including early settlement, transportation routes, local institutions, and the landscape surrounding Belton Lake. It is a pictorial history of sorts, unfolding panel by panel like a visual timeline.

Over the years, the Belton Dam mural has become one of the area’s most recognizable landmarks. It has been described as an iconic Central Texas public art project, highlighting both its sheer size and its role in preserving local history. The mural was more than decoration; it stood as an example of community-driven public art that has weathered decades of weather, growth, and change.

The project expanded in the 1980s, when additional artwork was added to other areas of the dam. In 2000, students and faculty from Mary Hardin-Baylor took part in a restoration project to repair several panels, all while taking care to preserve the original artwork.

Calooy’s connection to the mural remained strong throughout his life. Decades after its completion, he returned to the project when portions of the mural were vandalized. In 2021, with approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Calooy helped lead restoration efforts as volunteers gathered and local businesses donated supplies.

In an interview with KXXV-TV, Calooy stated that the original project “involved a cast of thousands.” This statement alone gives a glimpse into his love of art and community. Park officials noted the significance of seeing the original artist return to help preserve a piece that had become part of the area’s identity.

The Belton Dam mural was not Calooy’s only major work. In 2020, he completed a large military-themed mural in Nolanville honoring Fort Hood units and local veterans. The project was covered by KWTX-TV, which noted that the mural mirrored Calooy’s respect for military service and history. The work also included a tribute to his father, a Korean War Army veteran, depicted in uniform with his unit’s patch. Just as he did with the dam mural, Calooy invited volunteers to work alongside him, reflecting the community-centered style that defined his career.

In his final months, Calooy faced a difficult battle with acute myeloid leukemia. According to his family, he was diagnosed three months before his death and underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, including a long hospital stay. His illness prevented him from returning to the work he loved, and his health declined rapidly. Friends who visited Calooy in the hospital shared that he still asked for paper and pencils so he could continue creating art to pass the time.

Calooy left behind a visible legacy across Central Texas. More than that, he left a lasting reminder that art can be shared, history can be painted together, and a community working side by side can leave a permanent mark.

The family of Rudy Calooy invites people to honor his legacy by donating to the Rudy Calooy Jr. Memorial Fund at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Donations may be made online at advance.umhb.edu or by mailing a check to:

UMHB Advancement

UMHB Box 8409

900 College St.

Belton, TX 76513