McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

State news

February 16, 2013

Pickens’ portrait unveiled at Capitol

By DAN HOLTMEYER Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Texas oil magnate, billionaire philanthropist and Oklahoma State University megabooster T. Boone Pickens was honored Thursday at the state Capitol with the unveiling of a portrait by Oklahoma artist Mike Wimmer.

Pickens is the fifth person to have a portrait displayed in the Capitol while still living, said former State Sen. Charlie Ford, who heads the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund. There are more than 100 other works in the building.

“It’s a big day,” Pickens said at the ceremony, adding of Wimmer’s portrait, “I think he did it better than I am.”

State officials, legislators and OSU officials and alumni — groups that often overlap — gathered for the unveiling in the Governor’s Blue Room. Nearly all wore OSU orange in support of Pickens’ alma mater.

The mood was light, and many speakers jokingly made digs at Pickens, to which he usually responded in kind.

“Boone always reminds me that no one’s here because of me,” OSU President Burns Hargis said. “It’s fitting that this ceremony is on Valentine’s, because Boone, Oklahoma loves you.”

Gov. Mary Fallin, who joined members of her cabinet and Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb at the event, said Pickens exemplifies Oklahoma spirit and the honor was “probably long past due.”

“Future generations of Oklahomans can look at it and say, ‘I want to be like that man,’ “ Fallin said.

Pickens was repeatedly praised Thursday for retaining his ties to the state throughout his business success. Pickens credited his grandmother Nellie Molonson for inspiring him to keep Oklahoma in mind.

“She’s the one who said, well, two or three things, but one of them was, ‘Don’t ever forget where you came from,”’ he said. “I wish that grandmother was here.”

Pickens grew up in Holdenville, Okla., where he first entered business with a newspaper delivery route. As an adult, he started and acquired a string of oil companies, becoming a billionaire in the process.

He has since donated hundreds of millions of dollars to charitable organizations in Oklahoma and Texas, according to his foundation’s website. The bulk of that money has gone to OSU.

He has pledged to donate at least half of his fortune in his lifetime.

“It’s easy for me to say that I know now that his works and his actions will far outlive my painting,” Wimmer said.  “And I just want to say thank you for letting me be a part of it.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints
State news
Seasonal Content
AP Video
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50 Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones 9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
NDN Video
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage Trout's cycle a boost for Angels Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery Shakira's Shocking Talent Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill DWTS Crowns a Winner Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.