A bill proposed by three DFL state Representatives would commission a bust of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone to be permanently displayed at the state Capitol.
The bill is sponsored by State Reps. Tom Rukavina of Virginia, Rick Hansen of South St. Paul, and Patti Fritz of Faribault.
Wellstone served nearly two terms in the U.S. Senate — from 1991 until he died in a plane crash near Eveleth just 11 days before the 2002 election.
Wellstone, his wife, daughter, three staffers and two pilots were on the way to the funeral of Rep. Rukavina’s father, Mark, when the plane crashed.
Should the bill pass, Wellstone’s head would become the 18th bust displayed in the Capitol, joining these state luminaries: (Not all the sculptors and dates are known.)
- Edward Burdick
Sculptor: Paul Granlund
Placed: 1989
Location: Immediately outside House Chamber - Chief Wabasha III
Sculptor: Joann Bird
Placed: 1986
Location: First floor, east hall of outer rotunda - Martin Luther King Jr.
Sculptor: George Bassett
Placed: 1986
Location: First floor, base of East Grand Stair - Sigurd Olson
Sculptor: George Bassett
Placed: 1985
Location: First floor, north corridor - Chief Justice Warren Burger
Sculptor: Walker Hancock
Placed: 1984
Location: Second floor, in entry area outside Supreme Court - Nicholas D. Coleman
Sculptor: Paul Granlund
Placed: 1983
Location: First floor, base of West Grand Stair - Ignatius Donnelly
Sculptor: John Karl Daniels
Placed: 1981
Location: First floor, north corridor - Hubert H. Humphrey
Sculptor: George Bassett
Placed: 1977
Location: First floor, base of West Grand Stair Inventory of Mall - Henry Hastings Sibley
Sculptor: Henry Dexter
Placed: 1860
Location: First floor, north hall of outer rotunda - William Watts Folwell
Location: First floor, north corridor of outer rotunda - William Windom
Location: First floor, south hall of outer rotunda - Winfield Scott Hammond
Location: First floor, south hall of out rotunda - Cass Gilbert
Location: First floor, west hall of outer rotunda - Knute Nelson
Location: Senate Chamber, SW corner - Cushman K. Davis
Sculptor: I. G. Trentanove
Location: Senate Chamber, NE corner - Henry Mower Rice
Sculptor: Luella Varney
Placed: Sculpted in Rome in 1906
Location: Senate Chamber, NW corner - William Washburn
Sculptor: Franklin Simmons
Placed: Sculpted in Rome in 1906
Location: Senate Chamber, SE corner.
Honor the man, statesman Paul Wellstone
What can one say but…it’s about time to honor Paul Wellstone, a rare politician of integrity who left us too, too soon
Paul Wellstone is most relevant now, if only be it his image to remind us, at a time when integrity; quality of too many of our politicians are nothing to be proud of – and would-be candidates are too often a pathetic profile of ego and arrogance attempting to assimilate; trying to convince the voter of their non-existent credibility ?