Portrait of Don Young unveiled at Alaska's Capitol on 2nd anniversary of his death

Mar. 19—JUNEAU — A portrait of Don Young was unveiled at the Alaska State Capitol on the second anniversary of the longtime U.S. representative's death. The portrait drew lawmakers and family friends to the Speaker's Chamber on Monday.

"I can't begin to tell you how much that means. It would have been a terrible day alone," said Anne Young, the late congressman's wife. "It's still a terrible day. But it's a much more wonderful day with you all here."

Anne Young was joined at the ceremony by Joni Nelson, Young's eldest daughter, and Buster Griggs, Young's longtime friend who painted the portrait.

"This was very difficult because after I got it laid out, there was Don. Staring back at me with every stroke. And so, it was quite emotional," Griggs said.

Young died in 2022 at age 88. He was the longest-serving Republican in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives, and his 49 years in the House began in 1973.

He had also previously served in the Alaska Legislature: He was first elected to the state House in 1966 and to the state Senate in 1970.

Young's portrait will be displayed on the Capitol's second floor, next to a portrait of the late Sen. Ted Stevens, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1968 to 2009.