Strickland portrait unveiled at Ohio Statehouse
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For his dedicated service as Ohio's 68th governor, nearly 600 family, friends, former staff members and supporters gathered in Columbus at the Ohio Statehouse to recognize the public service of former Governor Ted Strickland and to unveil his official gubernatorial portrait.
"Ohio is a beautiful state and the people of Ohio reflect the best of America," said former Gov. Ted Strickland. "I came from the hills of southern Ohio and began my education in a one-room school house. And yet, I've had the honor to serve as Ohio's 68th governor. That was only possible because of the myriads of people who cared for me: my wife, Frances, my family, my friends, my teachers, my hard-working staff and the thousands of Ohioans who joined me in working to strengthen our State in difficult times. To them, and to all the people of Ohio, I am very grateful."
Portraits of Ohio governors are traditionally painted at the end of a governor's term or shortly thereafter. Former Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes, who served from 1868-72 and again from 1876-77, is attributed with beginning the collection of portraits. In 1867, Governor Rutherford B. Hayes decided to form a permanent and proper collection of Ohio Governor's portraits to hang in what was a new Capitol building. His vision was to ensure that the history of Ohio and its leaders was not lost. Prior to 1867, only a few of the past governors had been painted. After collecting any graphical representations that were available from the past governors, Hayes set out to complete the collection of those that were missing.
"A portrait is fine to show us just how a person looks, but little more. In respect to looks, I think Ted will compare very, very favorably with the long list of his gubernatorial predecessors whose portraits are already on display," said Senator John Glenn during the ceremony. "But in analyzing the man beyond the pictures, the characters, judgment, and lifelong devotion to public service, Ted ranks very high among the best to ever serve our great State of Ohio.
Senator Glenn went on to conclude his remarks by speaking directly to Governor Strickland and saying, "The man-behind-the-picture then, is a role model for public service at its best. That's what I hope our young people will appreciate and emulate as your portrait takes its place in this, our Ohio Capitol."
The portrait, painted by renowned Toledo artist, Leslie Adams, continues the tradition of paying a lasting tribute to the legacies of Ohio governors.
"I am deeply honored and profoundly excited to have been chosen to create the official portrait of Governor Strickland for the state of Ohio. Although I have found this work to be one of the most artistically challenging of my career, I am proud both of the results of my efforts and of the great honor of contributing to our state¹s legacy," said Leslie Adams.
In addition to Governor Strickland and Senator John Glenn, the recent program included remarks from Frances Strickland, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown, Strickland¹s former chief of staff John Haseley, former policy director Janetta King, former cabinet secretary Jan Allen, Retired Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Tom Esenwein, Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board Chair Senator Richard H. Finan, Ohio Historical Society executive director Burt Logan and portrait artist Leslie Adams.
The ceremony began with the singing of the National Anthem by Kimberly Cocroft, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge.
The Strickland portrait and framing was privately funded and cost $40,000. The portrait will be displayed for the public alongside previous Ohio governors' portraits in the William McKinley Hearing Room (Room 121) in the Ohio Statehouse.
The Ohio Historical Society is responsible for commissioning the portrait of each departing governor. The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board has the responsibility of displaying and maintaining the portraits in the Capitol building.
"This portrait will become a part of Ohio history and will hang in our Statehouse for all Ohioans to appreciate," said Senator Richard H. Finan, chairman of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board.
"We are honored to carry on the tradition of showcasing the governors of Ohio in the Statehouse and telling our state's story for generations to
come."
The ceremony in its entirety can be viewed online at www.ohiochannel.org.[[In-content Ad]]
"Ohio is a beautiful state and the people of Ohio reflect the best of America," said former Gov. Ted Strickland. "I came from the hills of southern Ohio and began my education in a one-room school house. And yet, I've had the honor to serve as Ohio's 68th governor. That was only possible because of the myriads of people who cared for me: my wife, Frances, my family, my friends, my teachers, my hard-working staff and the thousands of Ohioans who joined me in working to strengthen our State in difficult times. To them, and to all the people of Ohio, I am very grateful."
Portraits of Ohio governors are traditionally painted at the end of a governor's term or shortly thereafter. Former Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes, who served from 1868-72 and again from 1876-77, is attributed with beginning the collection of portraits. In 1867, Governor Rutherford B. Hayes decided to form a permanent and proper collection of Ohio Governor's portraits to hang in what was a new Capitol building. His vision was to ensure that the history of Ohio and its leaders was not lost. Prior to 1867, only a few of the past governors had been painted. After collecting any graphical representations that were available from the past governors, Hayes set out to complete the collection of those that were missing.
"A portrait is fine to show us just how a person looks, but little more. In respect to looks, I think Ted will compare very, very favorably with the long list of his gubernatorial predecessors whose portraits are already on display," said Senator John Glenn during the ceremony. "But in analyzing the man beyond the pictures, the characters, judgment, and lifelong devotion to public service, Ted ranks very high among the best to ever serve our great State of Ohio.
Senator Glenn went on to conclude his remarks by speaking directly to Governor Strickland and saying, "The man-behind-the-picture then, is a role model for public service at its best. That's what I hope our young people will appreciate and emulate as your portrait takes its place in this, our Ohio Capitol."
The portrait, painted by renowned Toledo artist, Leslie Adams, continues the tradition of paying a lasting tribute to the legacies of Ohio governors.
"I am deeply honored and profoundly excited to have been chosen to create the official portrait of Governor Strickland for the state of Ohio. Although I have found this work to be one of the most artistically challenging of my career, I am proud both of the results of my efforts and of the great honor of contributing to our state¹s legacy," said Leslie Adams.
In addition to Governor Strickland and Senator John Glenn, the recent program included remarks from Frances Strickland, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown, Strickland¹s former chief of staff John Haseley, former policy director Janetta King, former cabinet secretary Jan Allen, Retired Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Tom Esenwein, Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board Chair Senator Richard H. Finan, Ohio Historical Society executive director Burt Logan and portrait artist Leslie Adams.
The ceremony began with the singing of the National Anthem by Kimberly Cocroft, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge.
The Strickland portrait and framing was privately funded and cost $40,000. The portrait will be displayed for the public alongside previous Ohio governors' portraits in the William McKinley Hearing Room (Room 121) in the Ohio Statehouse.
The Ohio Historical Society is responsible for commissioning the portrait of each departing governor. The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board has the responsibility of displaying and maintaining the portraits in the Capitol building.
"This portrait will become a part of Ohio history and will hang in our Statehouse for all Ohioans to appreciate," said Senator Richard H. Finan, chairman of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board.
"We are honored to carry on the tradition of showcasing the governors of Ohio in the Statehouse and telling our state's story for generations to
come."
The ceremony in its entirety can be viewed online at www.ohiochannel.org.[[In-content Ad]]