Portrait Of Boone Pickens Unveiled At State Capitol

A portrait of Texas oil magnate and Oklahoma State University megabooster Boone Pickens was unveiled at the Oklahoma state Capitol Thursday.

State officials and legislators joined Pickens and OSU officials and alumni for Thursday's unveiling in the Governor's Blue Room.

Governor Mary Fallin says the honor is "probably long past-due" for someone who exemplifies the spirit of Oklahoma.

"Few people impact a university and state to the enormity of Boone Pickens," Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis said. "People point to Boone's record-setting, transformative donations as the capstone of his impact. While one cannot underestimate that impact, I can tell you we also immensely benefit from his brilliance as a visionary and inspirational leader."

Pickens grew up in Holdenville and graduated from OSU when it was Oklahoma A&M. He's donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the university and other causes and has pledged to donate at least half of his fortune to charitable organizations.

"I am humbled today by the kind gesture to have a portrait of me displayed in the State Capitol of my home state. Everywhere I have traveled around the world I tell anyone who will listen I am from Holdenville Okla., and darn proud of it. I have received many honors, but this one is indeed truly special to me," said Boone Pickens.

Oklahoma artist Mike Wimmer, who painted the portrait, says Pickens' name and works will outlive his painting.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.