Press Release- May 23, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
PORTRAIT OF FORMER GOV. OWENS UNVEILED AT STATE CAPITOL
The official portrait of former Gov. Bill Owens was unveiled at a Capitol ceremony this morning led by Owens' successor, Gov. Bill Ritter.
"Gov. Owens served the people of Colorado with dedication for nearly a quarter of a century in a variety of capacities," Gov. Ritter said. "From where I sit today, I appreciate the sacrifices he and his family made and all that he did in the name of public service."
"I¿m grateful to have had the chance to serve the people of Colorado as governor for eight years," Owens said. "I'm very proud that this portrait will hang near the Governor's Office, and alongside the portraits of fine public servants who led our state."
In addition to Gov. Ritter, House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and former House Speaker (and current CDOT Executive Director) Russell George spoke at the unveiling. George was Speaker during Owens' first term and served as Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources in the Owens administration.
The oil portrait is the work of Colorado artist Bob Olson of Bow Mar. He is a renowned artist whose work is found in collections throughout the United States, England and France. Olson worked from a photographic portrait done by prominent Colorado photographer Donn Bruns, who captured virtually every public event during Owens' eight years as governor.
The portrait of Owens, which was paid for with private funds, is hanging in the West Foyer of the Capitol near the Governor's Office, joining the portraits of other Colorado chief executives.
"For many years, some people wanted to attend the public hanging of Bill Owens at the Capitol," Owens joked. "Today they had their chance."
Since leaving office in January, Owens has been active in business and academic ventures. He serves as Vice Chairman of RBS Greenwich Capital with responsibilities centering on global banking and markets as well as public/private infrastructure finance. He is also a partner at the Denver-based JCB Group, which focuses on evaluating and acquiring available land throughout the western United States and internationally for residential/commercial development and investment projects. And he has joined the faculty of the University of Denver as a Senior Fellow of the Institute for Public Policy Studies.