Montana News
Former Gov. Judy Martz honored with a statue in state Capitol
A new statue has joined a collection of other Montana political giants in the state Capitol in Helena. The state's first woman elected governor now stands outside her former office. M-T-P-R Shailie Rager reports. Visitors wandering the Capitol's halls have a new feature to see, a nine-foot-tall bronze likeness of former Governor Judy Martz. The statue depicting a smiling Martz with one hand over her heart and another outstretched in a welcoming gesture was installed this week just outside the governor's office. She was very welcoming. I don't think she ever turned down anybody in her office that they wanted to come in and talk. Dave Galt, a former director of the state transportation department under Martz, was on the committee charged with fundraising and planning for the statue. State lawmakers passed legislation in 2019 to authorize it. Martz's statue joins the likes of former U.S. Senator Mike Mansfield and his wife, Marine, and the country's first woman elected to Congress, Jeanette Rankin of Missoula. Elected governor in 2001, Martz had previously served as the state's first female lieutenant governor under former governor Mark Roscoe. Roscoe spoke about Martz alongside the state's current leaders and Martz's family at an unveiling earlier this week. She was an extraordinary woman and leader by any measure. Martz was born to a ranching family in Big Timber in 1943. Before entering politics, Martz once held the titles of Miss Rodeo Montana and Olympian. She competed as a speed skater in the 1964 Winter Olympics. Martz and her husband had two children. She died in 2017 at age 74. In Helena, I'm Shalee Riker. This is Montana Public Radio News.