Monday, April 27, 2009
It’s hard to believe that it has been more than a year and a half since Rep. Richard O. Belden, a Republican from Shelton who was the longest-serving House member in state history, died suddenly while doing yard work at home.
To honor his memory, House Minority Leader Larry Cafero last week announced that a plaque commemorating Belden is hanging in the House caucus room, which is now called the “Belden Room.”
Cafero made his statement on the House floor after Bertha Belden, his widow was honored in Gov. Jodi Rell’s Capitol office and Southbury artist David Merrill presented her with an acrylic painting of the farmer’s market that Belden helped pioneer in downtown Shelton. At the back of the realistic painting (OK, the guy who sells clams isn’t there among the food tents), sitting on a park bench near the Housatonic river, Merrill painted Dick and Bert.
The painting was commissioned by the Working Lands Alliance to acknowledge Belden’s service.
Dick Belden was one of my closest friends in the legislature and in many ways, my mentor,” Rell said. “He worked tirelessly – and with honor and integrity – for the people of our state and I am so pleased to present this painting to Mrs. Belden.”
