Completed this spring by renowned artist Benjamin Knox ’90, the painting “The Ride Home” hangs in the Robert H. ’50 and Judy Ley Allen Building, home of the Bush School of Government & Public Service, spanning an impressive 16 feet across the recently renovated lobby.
Paying homage to the 41st president in intricate oil paints, the panoramic landscape depicts former President George H.W. Bush’s final train ride past a field of riders on horseback, saluting as the Union Pacific No. 4141 Engine journeys across the canvas. Knox worked on the painting for nine months, interweaving numerous symbols into the piece in sets of four and one as a nod to Bush’s presidency.
“President Bush is one of my heroes,” he said. “As a statesman, he always thought about how he could leave an impact for generations to come throughout his exemplary life.”
The commission, funded by Sonja and Neal Adams ’68, memorializes the former president’s impact on Texas A&M University, the Bush School of Government and Public Service, and the world. “Having President Bush’s library, school and final resting place here is an incredible honor,” Neal added. “This mural reminds people how special George and Barbara Bush were. You cannot put a value on their legacy to Texas A&M.”
