The Broom Man Project
Moderators: nebugeater, Omaha Cowboy, Brad, BRoss
-
Coyote
- City Council
- Posts: 34366
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Aksarben Village
The Broom Man Project
The Broom Man Project Is an effort to raise funds to create a Bronze Sculpture to keep the memory alive of an Omaha Icon, The Broom Man - Livingston Wills.
It was said that one of the Reverend's favorite scripture passages was the following found in Psalms 133:
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
"The hearts of the people of Omaha were for him," said Bernadine Jefferson, a friend of about 50 years. "I think a lot of people felt like he was part of their family. He was joyful and he had a good memory."
...Jefferson said Wills lived his life as God had instructed: "Love thy neighbor as thyself. Love your enemies, do good to them who hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them who despitefully use you."
It was said that one of the Reverend's favorite scripture passages was the following found in Psalms 133:
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
"The hearts of the people of Omaha were for him," said Bernadine Jefferson, a friend of about 50 years. "I think a lot of people felt like he was part of their family. He was joyful and he had a good memory."
...Jefferson said Wills lived his life as God had instructed: "Love thy neighbor as thyself. Love your enemies, do good to them who hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them who despitefully use you."
-
Omaha Cowboy
- The Don
- Posts: 1013704
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:31 am
- Location: West Omaha
Re: The Broom Man Project
I hope this tribute comes to fruition..
I used to see this guy all the time walking along Saddle Creek Rd in the late 80's/early 90's.. and he was a heck of a nice guy. A legendary part of the 20th Certury urban Omaha mosaic.. Anyone who lived in or frequented this area of Omaha in the 80's or 90's, remembers the "Broom Man"...
Ciao..LiO...Peace
I used to see this guy all the time walking along Saddle Creek Rd in the late 80's/early 90's.. and he was a heck of a nice guy. A legendary part of the 20th Certury urban Omaha mosaic.. Anyone who lived in or frequented this area of Omaha in the 80's or 90's, remembers the "Broom Man"...
Ciao..LiO...Peace
Go Cowboys!
-
Greg S
- City Council
- Posts: 8878
- Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:46 am
Re: The Broom Man Project
Bought my first house in the 90's. Before we moved in got our broom for it from him. My Dad had been buying brooms from him for years. My Dad really looked up to him.
Greg
Greg
-
GRANDPASMUCKER
- Human Relations
- Posts: 832
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:10 pm
- Location: Omaha
Re: The Broom Man Project
I can remember back in my heavy partying days in the late 70s and it was always a mind blower to be driving along half ripped and see the broom man walking down the street. One time around 2000 and something I was eating at the Old Country Buffet on 74th & Dodge and the Broom Man was there eating with a small entourage of about 6 or 7 people. After the Broom Man got done eating they went out and got his nice big blue Cadillac and pulled it up by the front door. The Cadillac was pretty new and nice and had Broom Man vanity plates on it. The Broom Man came outside and stood by the front door/his caddy and quickly sold about 6 or 7 brooms in about 10 minutes. His entourage then loaded him up into the car and the show went down the road.
-
Brad
- Photographer
- Posts: 1036413
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
- Location: Omaha, NE
Re: The Broom Man Project
Bronze statue to honor the 'Broom Man' in Omaha's Midtown Crossing
https://www.ketv.com/article/bronze-sta ... g/71176036
https://www.ketv.com/article/bronze-sta ... g/71176036
ketv.com wrote:A bronze statue of the Rev. Livingston Wills, affectionately called the "Broom Man," will soon stand in Midtown Crossing in Omaha as a tribute to his legacy and contributions to the community.
Sculptor John Lajba described the effort to capture Wills' essence in the statue.
"He never thought of himself as a bigger-than-life person. He just thought of himself as someone who did his best," Lajba said.
ketv.com wrote:The statue will be installed at the corner of Farnam Street and Turner Boulevard, just north of the World War II Memorial, with the dedication expected to take place in September.

Omaha Skyline Photos, Omaha Aerial Photos, and More.
Website: www.bradwilliamsphotography.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bradwilliamsphotography
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bradwphoto
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bradwilliamsphotography
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@bradwilliamsphoto
-
Louie
- County Board
- Posts: 4879
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:23 pm
- Location: Dundee
Re: The Broom Man Project
Come together with your hands
Save me
Im together with your plan
Save me
Im together with your plan
-
Garrett
- County Board
- Posts: 4611
- Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:29 pm
- Location: New York City
Re: The Broom Man Project
I've always thought that if the Kerrey Bridge were to have another name, naming it after Livingston Wills would feel appropriate.
OMA-->CHI-->NYC
-
Linkin5
- County Board
- Posts: 4860
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:59 pm
Re: The Broom Man Project
Such a classic Grandpa Smucker post.GRANDPASMUCKER wrote: Fri Oct 07, 2016 5:37 pm I can remember back in my heavy partying days in the late 70s and it was always a mind blower to be driving along half ripped and see the broom man walking down the street. One time around 2000 and something I was eating at the Old Country Buffet on 74th & Dodge and the Broom Man was there eating with a small entourage of about 6 or 7 people. After the Broom Man got done eating they went out and got his nice big blue Cadillac and pulled it up by the front door. The Cadillac was pretty new and nice and had Broom Man vanity plates on it. The Broom Man came outside and stood by the front door/his caddy and quickly sold about 6 or 7 brooms in about 10 minutes. His entourage then loaded him up into the car and the show went down the road.
-
Louie
- County Board
- Posts: 4879
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:23 pm
- Location: Dundee
Re: The Broom Man Project
He hasn’t been active in awhile. Wonder what happened.Linkin5 wrote: Sun May 03, 2026 7:10 pmSuch a classic Grandpa Smucker post.GRANDPASMUCKER wrote: Fri Oct 07, 2016 5:37 pm I can remember back in my heavy partying days in the late 70s and it was always a mind blower to be driving along half ripped and see the broom man walking down the street. One time around 2000 and something I was eating at the Old Country Buffet on 74th & Dodge and the Broom Man was there eating with a small entourage of about 6 or 7 people. After the Broom Man got done eating they went out and got his nice big blue Cadillac and pulled it up by the front door. The Cadillac was pretty new and nice and had Broom Man vanity plates on it. The Broom Man came outside and stood by the front door/his caddy and quickly sold about 6 or 7 brooms in about 10 minutes. His entourage then loaded him up into the car and the show went down the road.
-
nebugeater
- City Council
- Posts: 110811
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 6:07 pm
- Location: Gretna NE
Re: The Broom Man Project
Last active:Fri Jun 02, 2017 7:03 pmLouie wrote: Sun May 03, 2026 9:30 pmHe hasn’t been active in awhile. Wonder what happened.Linkin5 wrote: Sun May 03, 2026 7:10 pmSuch a classic Grandpa Smucker post.GRANDPASMUCKER wrote: Fri Oct 07, 2016 5:37 pm I can remember back in my heavy partying days in the late 70s and it was always a mind blower to be driving along half ripped and see the broom man walking down the street. One time around 2000 and something I was eating at the Old Country Buffet on 74th & Dodge and the Broom Man was there eating with a small entourage of about 6 or 7 people. After the Broom Man got done eating they went out and got his nice big blue Cadillac and pulled it up by the front door. The Cadillac was pretty new and nice and had Broom Man vanity plates on it. The Broom Man came outside and stood by the front door/his caddy and quickly sold about 6 or 7 brooms in about 10 minutes. His entourage then loaded him up into the car and the show went down the road.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
-
Linkin5
- County Board
- Posts: 4860
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:59 pm
Re: The Broom Man Project
I think he created another account with a similar name that stopped posting around Covid time.
-
nebugeater
- City Council
- Posts: 110811
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 6:07 pm
- Location: Gretna NE
Re: The Broom Man Project
GrandpaaSmuckerLinkin5 wrote: Mon May 04, 2026 6:27 am I think he created another account with a similar name that stopped posting around Covid time.
Last active:Wed Nov 10, 2021 7:14 am
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
-
thenewguy
- County Board
- Posts: 4255
- Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2007 9:50 pm
- Location: Council Bluffs
Re: The Broom Man Project
hahaLouie wrote: Fri May 01, 2026 5:39 pm Come together with your hands
Save me
Im together with your plan
Go Cubs Go