© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The Statehouse News Bureau provides educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations.

Seven Former House Speakers Get Official Portraits At The Statehouse

Portraits of all seven Speakers of the Ohio House, going back to 1967.

Political figures past and present were on hand in the Statehouse rotunda to honor seven former Speakers of the House, going back 50 years. The leaders, along with their families, friends and colleagues, were  there for the unveiling of their portraits.Former Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina), who served from 2011-2015, was very pleased with his portrait by Leslie Adams. “Oh, it’s beautiful. It’s just beautiful. As a matter of fact, I don’t look that good.”Batchelder’s predecessor Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) was similarly humble about his portrait by Daniel Greene. “It’s hard to make me look good. They had to put me in the right light and touch it up about 50 times, but they did a nice job.”Portraits of Charles Kurfess (R-Perrysburg, 1967-1972), AG Lancione (D-Bellaire, 1973-1975), Vern Riffe (D-New Boston, 1975-1995), Larry Householder (R-Newark, 2001-2005) and Jon Husted (R-Kettering) were also unveiled. The first woman House Speaker, JoAnn Davidson (R-Reynoldsburg, 1995-2001), was the first to have a portrait, back in 2013. Copyright 2017 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Tags