Governor Parson Unveils Official Portrait, Cuts Ribbon on New Hall of Governors Exhibit

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Jefferson City — Today, during a ceremony at the State Capitol, Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson unveiled Governor Parson's official portrait, commemorating his tenure as Missouri's 57th Governor. The unveiling of the Governor's portrait coincided with the grand opening and ribbon cutting event for the new Hall of Governors exhibit in the Missouri State Capitol.

"Serving as Missourians' Governor and First Lady has truly been the honor of our lives, and we are excited to share this official portrait with the thousands of visitors to our magnificent State Capitol," Governor and First Lady Parson said. "The new Hall of Governors exhibit will be a great addition to the beautiful artwork, historic exhibitions, and exceptional tributes to past Missouri leaders already on display. This portrait may serve as the bookend to our public service careers, but we will forever be humbled and count ourselves truly blessed to have been entrusted by the people of Missouri to lead our great state, where the promise of faith, family, and freedom lives on for generations to come."

About Governor Parson's Portrait

Governor Parson's portrait was painted by Lisa Ober of St. Louis, Missouri. The artist consulted with the Governor and First Lady to make certain the composition of the painting and the elements included represent their wishes. The resulting portrait is an original hand-painted oil painting on canvas which measures 33" X 39.5", framed.

The portrait depicts Governor Parson standing in front of a Governor's Office window inside the State Capitol. The background, which would normally be overlooking the Missouri River, was replaced with the rolling timber and hay fields of Polk County, the Governor and First Lady's home county. There are also other objects of significance within the piece:

  • John Deere tractor and hay baler – represent the Governor's love for farming and agriculture.
    • Governor Parson is a third-generation Missouri farmer who owns and operates a cow-calf operation.
    • John Deere is also the Governor's preferred farm equipment brand.
  • Prominent U.S. and Missouri flags – represent and demonstrate Governor Parson's military service, patriotism, and love for the State of Missouri.
  • Hidden "57" in and as part of tree foliage, as Governor Parson is Missouri’s 57th Governor.

The portrait was made possible by Sue Heckart of Sedalia, Missouri. The portrait was framed by the Gary R. Lucy Gallery in Washington, Missouri.

About the Hall of Governors

The new Hall of Governors exhibit is located on the first floor rotunda in the Capitol and honors Missouri's 57 Governors and six territorial Governors and showcases their respective official portraits, if they’ve been commissioned. Many of these portraits were located in various parts of the Missouri State Museum located on the first floor of the Capitol Building, but others had been stored in state archives due to lack of space within the museum. Due to the passage of time, many of the portraits and frames needed to be restored.

Approved by the Missouri Board of Public Buildings and supported by the Missouri State Capitol Commission, this new Capitol gallery provides a centralized location for these portraits and creates an interactive exhibit to educate visitors on Missouri’s past and present Governors and the role of the Executive Branch in Missouri’s state government. A nameplate QR code will be placed next to each portrait to allow visitors to learn more about each Governor. These portraits are permanently mounted to the stone walls in the hallways and placed under glass with a name plate and mounting system installed. The new gallery space also features a large video wall display utilizing chip-on-board LED technology. This display showcases the sitting Governor and includes timely content during his or her administration.

“The Hall of Governors is a testament to the importance of governance and the impact of leadership. It is a reminder of the challenges our leaders have faced, the milestones they’ve achieved, and the collective strength that unites us as one in pursuit of a brighter future," Commissioner Ken Zellers, Office of Administration, said. “The Capitol is a living monument to the history, culture, and values of our state. It has stood for over a century as a beacon of democracy, and the work we are doing to preserve this building ensures it will continue to inspire future generations.”

As part of the project, the Office of Administration (OA) has renovated the North/South corridor hallways adjacent to the first floor rotunda to establish this new gallery. Museum-grade recessed lighting was installed in the ceiling to illuminate the portraits. The ceilings were also painted to reflect the stone finish color that was originally displayed on the hallway ceilings in the Capitol. Capitol guests will notice archway signage in the entry ways of the gallery to easily identify the exhibit as the “Hall of Governors” and large-format signs will be placed in the gallery to allow visitors to read more about the history of Missouri.

Photos from today's ceremony will be made available on Governor Parson's Flickr page.