BUSH MONUMENT DEDICATED AT SESQUICENTENNIAL PARK
Privately Funded Project Honoring 41st President Given to People, City of Houston

12.3.2004 -- A monument honoring George Bush, the 41st U.S. president, was presented to the people and the City of Houston in a ceremony Thursday at Sesquicentennial Park . Mayor Bill White officially accepted the monument during a morning unveiling event attended by President and Mrs. Barbara Bush.

The downtown monument, near the corner of Bagby and Franklin, features an eight-foot, 650-pound bronze sculpture of the former president by artist Chas Fagan of Charlotte, North Carolina, and a semicircular wall of four bas-reliefs by Houston artist Wei-li "Willy" Wang that depict President Bush as a Navy pilot in World War II; as a Houston oilman and member of Congress; with Mikhail Gorbachev in managing the peaceful end of the Cold War; and with wife Barbara attending the inauguration of their oldest son as 43rd president.

“We hope this place will provide a place of commemoration, something tangible that marks Houston city as the home of our nation's 41st president,” said Charles Foster, who together with David Jones co-chaired the coordinating committee that initiated the project.

Signing on as honorary chairs of the monument are Houstonians who have served in Cabinet level and other noteworthy positions: James A. Baker III, former secretary of state; Charles Duncan, former energy secretary; Lloyd Bentsen, former treasury secretary; Robert Mosbacher Sr., former commerce secretary; Hushang Ansary, former minister in the Iranian government; and former Houston mayor Lee Brown.

The project cost $1.7 million, and all funds were raised through private donations.

Ongoing maintenance of the property will be the responsibility of the Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department (CEF), which manages Sesquicentennial Park.