Today, legendary Star Wars concept artist Ralph McQuarrie was presented honorary membership in the 501st Legion in a small ceremony conducted in front of the Yoda fountain at Lucasfilm’s Presidio complex.
Photo by Terri Hodges
McQuarrie’s designs for Darth Vader, stormtroopers, and by extension, clone troopers, have profoundly impacted the general character of the 501st Legion, who celebrate the Star Wars saga by reproducing various Imperial, bounty hunter, and other costumes for charitable appearances and Lucasfilm-sanctioned events. The Legion was deeply honored to induct one of Star Wars’ chief architects into its ranks, which already includes George Lucas, Mark Hamill, and James Earl Jones, among others.
McQuarrie shakes the hand of Mark Fordham of the 501st.
Presented by Damien Metz (Commanding Officer, Neon Garrison), McQuarrie received an Honorary Member plaque before a small audience of friends, including Lucasfilm Events Manager Mary Franklin, Art of Ralph McQuarrie co-authors John Scoleri and Stan Stice, Artist Tom Hodges and photographer Terri Hodges, Ed Karl (Commanding Officer, Golden Gate Garrison, Legion Executive Officer, worldwide 501st Legion), Mark Fordham (Legion Commanding Officer, worldwide 501st Legion), Sean Crosby (Commanding Officer, Southern California Garrison), Mark Chu Lin (Commanding Officer, Central California Garrison), Lucasfilm Photographer Tina Mills, and Lucas Online’s Pete Vilmur.
Veteran ILMer Dennis Muren catches up with McQuarrie, who haven’t seen eachother in nearly 20 years. Photo by Terri Hodges
Photographer Terri Hodges has posted several photos from McQuarrie’s visit to the Presidio. You can check those out here.
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Finally! Well done, troopers.
Congratulations and welcome to the Legion!!
Felicidades!!!! Mr McQuarrie visions lives in our costumes!
Very nice to see Mr.McQuarrie receiving this well-deserved honor.
Very nice! Congrats to Mr. McQuarrie! His work is an inspiration to us all so it’s nice to see us giving something back to him.
Kudos to Ralph! A well deserved honor!
A long due homage to the man who brought us all all those amazing designs from another galaxy.
Long(er) may you live, oh Dean of the STAR WARS artists!
Well deserved Mr. McQuarrie, your designs have inspired us all
A great honor to have him as member of the LEGION…
All 501st members are proud livin tributes of his great work
Woo! Congrats to Mr McQuarrie!
An inspirational visionary and truly a worthy defector. Welcome, General.
I was fortunate enough to have met Mr. McQuarrie back in 1997 when he personalized a poster print for me and my brother. It was a highlight for me as a Star Wars fan meeting the man whose paint brush created the look of the icons we know and love.
Congratulations, Mr. McQuarrie, and may the force be with you!
As Lord Vader said, “This will be a day long remembered”.
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Another Great one joins the ranks of the 501st! An honor that is WELL deserved!Thank you Mr. McQuarrie.
Congrats to Ralph!
Great pics Terri and Tom!
Glad to see McQuarrie is part of the 501st, and a now expanding universe, and I can’t wait until I can join.
good for you mr McQurrie
Awesome to see Ralph get this Honour!
A true Legend.
Quality Pics too Terri
Congrats to The Legend!
I hope they would cast a character using his name to really honor him! After all the universe is expanding…
Congrats Mr. McQuarrie on joining the awesome 501st, and thank you for being such an inspiration to us all!
Who’s the 501st?
Thank you Mr. McQuarrie for your universe of inspiration!
A fitting honor for a legendary talent!!!
Mr. Mcquarrie should have gotten a huge ceremony, not a smal one. He was the greatest of the star wars concept artists.