George Pollard; portraits captured the famous; 88
KENOSHA, Wis. - Portrait artist George Pollard, whose subjects included presidents Harry Truman and John Kennedy, Pope John Paul II, and Muhammad Ali, has died. He was 88.
He died in his sleep Thursday at his Kenosha home, said his wife, Nan Pollard.
Mr. Pollard, who grew up on a farm near Sheboygan, attended art schools in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh before he enlisted in the Marines during World War II and served 39 months in the South Pacific.
He painted a portrait of General Douglas MacArthur in Australia and later was recruited to do one of first lady Eleanor Roosevelt when she toured the South Pacific.
Kennedy was a senator in the presidential race in 1960 when Mr. Pollard went to Milwaukee and persuaded him to pose for a portrait by showing him sketches he had done in the war.
Truman reacted to a Mr. Pollard portrait by remarking, "Young man, I think you flattered me just right," Nan Pollard said.
His other subjects included musician Ray Charles, Green Bay Packers greats Bart Starr and Brett Favre, and baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.
He was the official portrait artist for the Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Brewers for about 25 years.
