Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2004

Contact: Marisa Ramirez
713.743.8152 (office)
mrcannon@uh.edu

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A photo is available at http://www.uh.edu/media/nr/2004/12dec/
122104munsonccard.html. High-resolution versions are available by contacting Marisa Ramirez.

HOUSTON, Dec. 20, 2005—When the president sends invitations to this year’s holiday festivities at the White House there will be a University of Houston connection. Noted artist and UH alumna Ruth Munson created the image of the Marine Band that adorns the official invitation to all White House holiday parties.

“Laura Bush saw my work and liked it very much,” said Munson. “When the White House decided that the theme this year would be ‘music’ they thought the Marine Band picture would be appropriate.”

Munson’s piece, “The President’s Own,” features a Marine Band conductor leading musicians amid snow flocked Christmas trees at the North Entrance of the White House. She created it especially for the White House holiday festivities. Munson is an accomplished portrait artist whose clients include Texas legends Nolan Ryan and Bob Bullock. She is currently completing a portrait of playwright Horton Foote. Her work earned her a trip to one of the White House holiday parties where first lady Laura Bush introduced her to the president.

“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t draw or paint. I didn’t have a choice. It was just me,” said Munson.

Munson graduated from UH in the 1960’s after studying art and drawing under the guidance of acclaimed artist Robert Joy. She teaches private art classes in Houston when she is not painting portraits. Her White House holiday invitation has earned her a fair amount of celebrity in her hometown, but she takes it all in stride.

“I’m surprised, really,” said Munson. “I try not to pay too much attention to it. What I like best is that I did it. I worked very hard and I achieved it.”

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.