A new statue has been added to the collection of Montana political figures at the state capitol in Helena. The state’s first female governor now has a statue outside her former office.
Visitors to the capitol can now admire a nine-foot-tall bronze statue of former Gov. Judy Martz. The statue shows Martz with a smile, one hand over her heart, and the other hand outstretched in a welcoming gesture. It was recently installed outside the governor’s office.
“She was very welcoming. I don’t think she ever turned down anybody in her office who wanted to come in and talk,” said Dave Galt.
Galt, who served as director of the state transportation department under Martz, was part of the committee that raised funds and planned for the statue. The state legislature passed a bill in 2019 to authorize the statue.
Martz’s statue now stands among other notable figures, such as former U.S. Sen. Mike Mansfield and Jeanette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress.
Elected governor in 2001, Martz previously served as the first female lieutenant governor of Montana under Gov. Marc Racicot.
Racicot, along with current state leaders and Martz’s family, spoke about Martz at the unveiling of the statue earlier this week.
“She was an extraordinary woman and leader in every way,” said Racicot.
Before her political career, Martz came from a ranching family in Big Timber in 1943. She was also a former Miss Rodeo Montana and an Olympian, competing in speed skating at the 1964 Winter Olympics.
Martz had two children with her husband and passed away in 2017 at the age of 74.
