Southbury First Selectman Tim O’Neil and the Board of Selectmen had the privilege of presenting the family of David K. Merrill with an official proclamation honoring his legacy. Cindy McPhee and David Merrill Jr. visited Town Hall this week to accept the proclamation and speak briefly about their father and his art.
David Merrill, who passed away in July, was a longtime Southbury resident and renowned artist. His large-scale mural at Southbury Town Hall has welcomed visitors since 1978. It depicts forty-two scenes of Southbury through the seasons.
David Merrill’s legacy and reach extended far beyond Southbury. In addition to his Southbury Town Hall mural, he created large-scale public works at the Lutheran Home of Southbury, Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, and the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library in Monroe. His paintings can also be found in thousands of private collections, museums, municipalities, hospitals, banks, and historical societies throughout the United States and around the world.
David Merrill is remembered for his kindness, generosity, and endless creative talent. In 2023, he was honored with the original Lifetime Achievement Award during Southbury’s 350th Anniversary celebration. The following year, the award was formally established and named the David K. Merrill Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award in recognition of his lifelong contributions to the arts.
Residents are encouraged to visit Southbury Town Hall during business hours to view the mural, which is located in the stairwell between the first and second floors.
Southbury First Selectman Tim O’Neil and members of the Board of Selectmen presented an official proclamation to the family of David K. Merrill in honor of his legacy on August 5, 2026, in front of the large-scale mural he painted at Southbury Town Hall in 1978.
Pictured left to right: Selectwoman Kelly Keenan, First Selectman Tim O’Neil, Cindy McPhee, David Merrill Jr., Selectman Holly Sullivan, Selectwoman Cathy De Carli, and Selectman Jason Van Stone.
Pictured left to right: Cindy McPhee, David Merrill Jr., First Selectman Tim O’Neil, Selectwoman Kelly Keenan, Selectman Holly Sullivan, Selectwoman Cathy De Carli, and Selectman Jason Van Stone.
Cindy McPhee, David Merrill Jr. with proclamation honoring legacy of their father, David K. Merrill, in front of the large-scale mural he painted at Southbury Town Hall in 1978.
