David Ralston, a UNG alumnus whose life was defined by service to the state, was posthumously honored on Mar. 15 with the unveiling of a portrait at the state capitol.
The portrait was commissioned by the UNG Foundation last July to artist Travis Massey of Gainesville.
Ralston was an attorney who served Georgia’s 51st district in the State Senate before being elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2002 for the 7th district.
In 2010, he became the 73rd Speaker of the House - a position he held until his death in 2022. At the time of his passing, he was the longest currently-serving state house speaker in the country.
Ralston was instrumental in raising funds for UNG’s Blue Ridge campus. The funding he helped secure was used to open the campus in 2015 as well as an expansion, which is currently underway and will come into use this fall.
"We will always be grateful to Speaker Ralston for the impact he made on both UNG and the state of Georgia," UNG President Michael Shannon said. "Thanks to his leadership, generations of leaders will change the trajectory of their family's lives at UNG's Blue Ridge Campus."
The University System of Georgia’s chancellor, former Gov. Sonny Perdue, was joined by former Gov. Nathan Deal and Georgia’s current governor, Brian Kemp, at the event to commemorate Ralston's impact.
"Speaker Ralston was an accomplished statesman and a proud Georgian whose memory lives on under the Gold Dome," Gov. Kemp said. "This portrait will serve as a lasting reminder of both what he accomplished during his years of public service and our shared memories with him.”
"David Ralston was a kid from a small town in north Georgia who became one of Georgia’s most distinguished public servants, someone who could bring people together no matter their differences and find a civil and respectful way to the best solution for Georgia," Perdue said. "I first experienced this when we served together in the state Senate, and it was a privilege to watch my friend continue to build bridges as he became the longest-serving current state House speaker in the United States. It is only fitting that his portrait hangs here, in the people’s capitol, to remind us of all we should aspire to in service to this state and its great citizens."
Ralston’s widow, Sheree, and their two children were present, as well, to celebrate the beloved husband and father.
“Thank you to Gov. Perdue, Gov. Deal and Gov. Kemp for your kind words. I have quite a few people from House District 7 here. Thank you for being here. David Ralston loved you, and he worked hard for you. Thank you to the artist," Sheree Ralston said. "But most of all, thank you to the University of North Georgia, who stays faithful to David Ralston. And he was faithful to you."
The portrait of Ralston will be displayed outside of the house chamber doors across from an existing portrait of former House Speaker Tom Murphy(D). Murphy, also a UNG alumnus, and Ralston were the two longest-serving speakers in the history of the Georgia House. Murphy served in the role for 30 years and Ralston for 13 years.
"Speaker David Ralston left a legacy for our communities and the state of Georgia. The University of North Georgia's Blue Ridge Campus is part of that legacy," Sandy Ott, executive director of the Blue Ridge Campus, said. "He valued and knew the impact of education and wanted everyone to have access and opportunity to a brighter future."
