Rob Portman: “I rise today to honor a very dear friend and Brown County, Ohio, constituent, John Ruthven, who was selected by…”

“I rise today to honor a very dear friend and Brown County, Ohio, constituent, John Ruthven, who was selected by President Bush to receive the National Medal of the Arts, the highest award to an artist or patron in the United States. I was honored to join John and his wife, Judy, and members of his family today at the White House for the medal presentation by President Bush. He is one of the most talented artists in the Nation, and we are proud to know him as one of our neighbors in southern Ohio. We cannot think of anybody more deserving of this honor. John is an author, lecturer, naturalist, conservationist, and internationally acknowledged master of wildlife art. We consider him a modern day Audubon. His love of nature is infectious. So many, including my own family, have joined John on his naturalist tours of the woods of his beloved farm. His original paintings have been shown at the White House, the Hermitage Museum in Russia, here at the U.S. Capitol, the Ohio State capitol rotunda, and many other prestigious venues around the world. The National Medal of Arts, Mr. Speaker, is a very prestigious award. The President may award up to 12 medals per year. There were only seven other individuals to receive the national medal today. All of us in southern Ohio congratulate John on receiving this most prestigious national award.”