OLYMPIA — Just call him Don Owen.
Brad Owen, Washington’s fun-loving, globe-trotting lieutenant governor, has been knighted by the Spanish government.
Owen, a Democrat from the nearby timber town of Shelton, is best known for his passion for rock music and the pomp of presiding over the state Senate. In the Senate chambers where he often honors visiting dignitaries, the tables were turned Wednesday and he was the honoree.
Representatives of King Juan Carlos presented Owen with Spain’s highest civilian honor for a non-Spanish citizen. His aide for international relations, Antonio Sanchez, also was honored.
Owen used the ceremonies to urge Americans to put aside their fear of foreigners and “move us a millimeter closer to world peace.” He gave part of his speech in Spanish and quoted from Cervantes’ masterpiece, “Don Quixote,” in urging the state to view international relations as “windmills of opportunity,” rather than cause for alarm.
After speeches from Gov. Chris Gregoire and visiting dignitaries, Manuel Pradas Romani, Spain’s consul general to the U.S., invested Owen and Sanchez with their medals and gave them large scrolls. There was no kneeling as with British ceremonies, but Owen’s office described the honor as a knighthood. He is entitled to use the honorific title “don,” or “sir.”
Owen has made international travel and hosting of visiting delegations a hallmark of his 12 years as Washington’s lieutenant governor.
He was honored for introducing the Spanish-built high-speed Talgo train to Washington, promoting Spanish language instruction and teacher exchanges, and bringing Spanish art treasures for exhibitions in Seattle. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia visited the Seattle Art Museum exhibition in 2004.
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