[3] This was the largest single art prize at that time for painters in the United States, consisting of a $6,000 stipend for study overseas for 3 years, and a New York studio space.

Among the jury members who awarded Weaver the first prize were sculptor Mahonri Young and the painter Gifford Beal.

His painting The Repensky Riders (aka Manhattan Matinee) won the competition for Weaver who was only 24 years of age at the time.

In the meantime, Rehearsal was included in the Academy's Founder's Show and then it was slated to go to The 16th Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary American Oil Paintings at the Corcoran Gallery of Art from March 26 to May 7, 1939.

Another important work, Circus Girl In Her Dressing Tent[11] was shipped to the Pennsylvania Academy for inclusion in their exhibition beginning on January 29, 1939.

During his time back in Peru, he painted his large work Those Riding Hannefords[12] which was invited to be exhibited at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition.

Weaver embarked aboard the SS Champlain from New York to England on May 25, 1939 to fulfil his Chaloner overseas obligations.

He met up with 2 artist friends Harry Davis, and George Prout from the Herron school who were also studying in Europe at the time.

Upon his return to the United States, Weaver contacted the Chaloner Foundation to obtain permission to finish his overseas study in Mexico.

Flying as a Martin PBM Mariner crew-member, Weaver's VH-3 squadron distinguished itself and earned the Navy Unit Commendation for service from 29 March to 30 June 1945.

Throughout the trial overseas Weaver continued to draw, creating numerous action depictions to chronicle his squadron's work.

A fine example of this was his work Survivors,[14] a drawing on board of two recovered pilots with blankets over their heads, giving an impression of monks at prayer.

An Indianapolis News article by author Filomena Gould stated, "I like the story behind the man who is painting murals in the children's ward at Methodist Hospital, making its solarium—the gift of Thomas Taggart—a place of enchantment for the shut-in youngsters.

Offhand, it seems to me that what Fragonard was to Versailles, what Van Dyck was to the Stuarts, what Bellows was to the prize ring, and Benton to the barn lot, this Hoosier-bred painter is to the circus.

"[15] The Indianapolis News of Thursday, September 5, 1946 announced that Weaver would be added to the Herron Art School faculty for the coming season.

[16] A work entitled Portrait of A Woman was included in the Carneigie Institute's exhibition Painting in the United States, 1946.

Grand Central Galleries contacted Weaver on June 28, 1946 to inform him that they had sold "a circus picture," Summer Afternoon to International Business Machines.

The painting was lost for many years but appeared in an episode of the TV show "Columbo"/Identity Crisis where it can be seen in several shots hanging on the wall in the same frame that was on it until it resurfaced in a December, 1997 sale at Sotheby's Auction house.

Although Weaver had abandoned his studio in New York, he continued to produce work which included more common subjects depicting life in Indiana.

In December, 1954 sketches of murals to be painted by his Herron students were presented to Dr. Fabien Sevitsky, music director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Sevitsky chose three scenes that were executed by a group of third year students of Beaux-Arts design under the supervision of Weaver.

This friendship would eventually culminate in an annual poster design competition at the Herron School judged by Mr. Hulman who presented the winners with cash prizes.

A group of close friends and civic minded Peru citizens joined Weaver to establish the Circus City Festival, Inc. (CCFI), an organization in which he served as president.

To finance this project the entire community rose to the occasion and produced A Night With Cole Porter (a native Peruvian).

Harkening back to Wagon 97, Weaver reiterated his affinity for the circus lot as a place of great activity, a city rising from a grassy field inhabited by performers from many nations.

During this same period, a full-length video documentary on Weaver's work with Indianapolis 500 president Tony Hulman aired on WFYI-TV as part of the series Across Indiana.

Senger was a long time business man in Miami county that enjoyed Weaver's work, amassing a large collection over 3 decades.

In the Mind's Eye enjoyed its international debut in Norway in the spring of 2013, when it was performed by the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra under conductor Krzysztof Urbanski.

The exhibition showcased the work of some of the deans of Indiana's regionalist artists that made great strides on the international competition scene over a 15-year period.

Under the guidance of then school Dean Donald Magnus Mattison, Herron students like Weaver put Indiana art on the national map as a force of creative excellence.