REMEMBERING 39 • PRESIDENT CARTER

As mourners paid tribute to former President Jimmy Carter last week, an elderly man from Owatonna sat in his living room remembering the day he encountered the president to present him with a watercolor painting.

Del Cass gave President Jimmy Carter his riverboat painting on Aug. 19, 1979, in Prairie du Chien, Wis. At the time, Cass was a designer working for Jostens in Owatonna. Cass celebrated his 93^rd birthday on the day President Carter’s funeral aired on national TV. Carter was 100.

In August 1979, Carter made a seven-day cruise on the Delta Queen down the Mississippi River, starting in St. Paul and ending in St. Louis. Cass painted a watercolor of the famous riverboat and personally handed it to the First Family during one of the stops at Prairie du Chien.

“We just can’t believe it,” said Del’s wife, Jeanne Cass, at the time. “It’s been just like a dream since they called.”

President Carter’s choice of Cass’s painting came about after a series of amazing coincidences. Cass had been at an art fair in Madison, Wis., in July 1979 where over 400 artists from all over the nation had displayed their talents. A customer from Prairie du Chien had purchased one of the 400 limited edition prints of the Delta Queen at the Madison show.

Cass said the mayor of Prairie du Chien saw his painting at a gallery and wanted it. “The mayor thought it would be great to give a painting to Carter when he spent a day there,” Cass recalled.

The Secret Service made a trip to Owatonna about three weeks prior to the Prairie du Chien event in 1979 to pick up the original painting from Cass.

The painting was given to Carter during a public event along the river in Prairie du Chien with Cass, his wife and daughter. Del still vividly recalls the Secret Service following them around as they went to visit the president. “My daughter was in the backseat, and she said, ‘They’re still behind us,’” he said. 

Cass remembers that they interacted with the president and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, for about 15 minutes. “Rosalynn asked me about the painting,” Cass said.

President Carter was in Wisconsin preaching the unity of America’s people to thousands of them. The Casses were among 7,000 people who greeted the president. But very few got the opportunity that the Casses had in personally talking to Carter.

Asked about his impressions of the president, Cass said: “Just like meeting anyone. He was just common and friendly.”

The painting eventually ended up at the White House where it was displayed. President Carter later sent Cass an official citation, which read: “Rosalynn and I appreciated the warm hospitality extended to us today. We enjoyed our visit and would like to thank you for giving us your painting of the ‘Delta Queen.’”

Cass still hangs onto a memento of a picture taken of him with the president and signed by Carter. Inscribed on the picture is “Best wishes to Del Cass, Jimmy Carter.”

The once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a sitting president has always been remembered by Cass. He admits that it didn’t initially hit him what had taken place. “I didn't know how much of a thrill it was at the time,” Cass said.

He developed a love for painting after taking an art class in college. Cass ended up at the Minneapolis Art Institute’s art program for three years.

After serving in the U.S. Navy for two years, Cass came back to his home area of La Crosse, Wis. He picked up the newspaper and saw two jobs advertised: one at IBM in Rochester and the other at Josten’s in Owatonna.

“I came to Owatonna and never heard of it before,” Cass said, noting he accepted a job in the art department at Josten’s where he was employed for 40 years.

Cass began his watercolor painting in the early 1970s when his job involved less and less finished art for Josten’s.

He said he was drawn to painting the Delta Queen because of boyhood memories in the La Crosse area. “I grew up along the Mississippi and along the back waters,” Cass said. “I loved the area by La Crescent, Minn.”

His artwork took him to many places and various art shows around the Midwest.

Besides being an accomplished painter, Cass also excelled with designing rings for Josten’s. For four straight years, his rings were chosen from a group of others at the four major military academies: West Point, Air Force, Coast Guard and Naval Academy.

“It’s very unusual to be picked that many times,” said his current wife, Connie.

He hasn’t painted for more than 20 years. These days he is focused on being the caregiver for his wife who has limited mobility. They are hoping to remain in their home as long as they can.

As the Casses watched President Carter’s funeral, he marveled at all the things the president accomplished. “I didn’t realize what a great man he was,” Cass said. “He did so much after he retired from president like humanity work and church work. I think he was just a good person and wanted to do the right thing to help people.”

Many people remembered Carter as “a good and faithful servant of God and of the people.”

When asked if meeting President Carter was the biggest highlight of his life, Cass responded with a laugh, “I suppose.” After all, he said, who else gets to do something like he did 45 years ago.

“At the time, I didn’t realize how big of an honor it was.”