On Thursday, Jan 3, an unveiling of the official portrait of Gov. Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal was held at the Georgia State Capitol. Gov. Deal and Mrs. Deal were joined by chief of staff Chris Riley, House Speaker David Ralston, and many others to celebrate this pivotal moment.
Gov. Deal has a multitude of achievements when it comes to driving forward Georgia’s successes. However, painter Thomas Nash, added his touch of remarkable symbolism to highlight some significant achievements of Deal’s time in office, including:
- The scales of justice representing Deal’s leadership on criminal justice reforms.
- A toy car representing economic development achievements and Georgia’s distinction of the No. 1 state for business for six consecutive years. During Deal’s time in office, companies including Mercedes-Benz USA, Kia Motors and Porsche North America located major operations in Georgia.
- An apple on top of a children’s book representing investments in education and Mrs. Deal’s visits to 1,000 schools across the state.
- A copy of “Memories of the Mansion,” authored by Mrs. Deal with co-authors Dr. Catherine M. Lewis and Dr. Jennifer Dickey, that shares the history of the Governor’s Mansion through the stories and experiences of former first families of Georgia.
- A construction crane representing the ongoing construction of the new 224,500-square-foot judicial complex on the corner of Capitol Avenue and Memorial Drive.
“We should all be mindful that the accomplishments of the last eight years are not something I did alone,” said Deal. “No single office or person should seek credit for such efforts. All of the things symbolized in this portrait were made possible by unsung heroes who had important roles in bringing various initiatives to fruition, and for that I am truly thankful. So many people are a part of this portrait, as we are all committed to furthering the gains we have made, and we are all dedicated to a stronger economy, better opportunities through education and a state that values justice. I am indeed proud of what we have achieved, together, these last eight years.”
The portrait will be displayed outside the governor’s office on the second floor of the Capitol.
For more information and additional photos of the ceremony, click here or visit www.gov.georgia.gov
