Married LaVerne, and parents of Norma (Lyon), Ben, Michael and Jo Stong.
Ben became a reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel in 1927. On the tenth anniversary of the founding of KNS, 21 Nov 1931, he became Editor.
When Ben and Elsa got married and found out they had no furniture, Benton made their furniture out of piano boxes. He also made hooked rugs which won second prize in the Tennessee State Fair.
EULOGY TO BEN STONG
By Senator John Melcher
At Memorial Services, Arlington, Virginia September 9, 1980
Family of Ben --
Friends of Ben --
Last Saturday morning Ben's sojourn with us came to a close.
http://showcase.netins.net/web/mewnlite/eulogy.htm
It was 75 years and a few months. Ben's was an active life -- until only one week before, from the last Saturday in August, when he entered Sibley Hospital under his own power, until Saturday morning, September 6, when cardiac arrest ended three-quarters of a century during which Ben was many things to many people.
Ben was wise.
Ben was experienced. He was real.
Ben was articulate.
Ben was resourceful -- his memory remarkable.
Ben was helpful -- always available.
Ben was strong -- always compassionate.
Ben was fun.
Ben loved people.
Ben loved life.
He lived with zest.
He relished confrontation.
Engaged in debate with good humor, honor and truth.
The very essence of Ben was the combination of all these attributes. All joined and blended into his character. Then all of it was coupled with his remarkable energy that sorted Ben out from the pack and distinguished him among men as the
Stalwart sage of agriculture --
Leader of the conservation movement --
An expert on water development --
An effective proponent of rural electrics --
A determined advocate of a better economy and a better life for all of rural America.
How did this man come to mean so much to so many?
What gave Ben his drive, his vigor in pursuing goals -- to continually strive to help and to prod and to persuade people in government to make good, honest and progressive decisions?
Let's look back -- his roots were in Iowa -- born in the village of Keosauqua in 1905, the son of Ben and Ada Stong and the brother of Phil and Jo. Ben, Sr. ran the town's general store and was the Postmaster. His grandfather had tried the California Gold Rush but was known better in Iowa as the founder of lowa's first State Fair. That may have been an inspiration to Ben's brother Phil, who wrote the novel, later a great screen play -- "State Fair." Brother Jo became a banker-lawyer -- two professions Ben loved to chide with puckish, populist flair.
Ben received a degree in Journalism from Drake University, Class of 1927. He reported first for the Des Moines Register. He was confident, energetic, brash, fun-loving, occasionally a hell-raiser, and he pursued with enthusiasm a highly successful journalistic career for a decade or more with Scripps-Howard papers. These included first their paper in Cleveland, Ohio, then, State Capitol Bureau Chief at Nashville, Tennessee, editor of the News Sentinel at Knoxville, and later as Scripps- Howard's Washington correspondent.
Ben's style of writing was direct and clear. His style was honest and pointed -- depth and plenty of punch. That style came natural for Ben because that was the way his thoughts flowed from his mind. No phoniness -- he did not need gimmicks -- he had truth, knowledge, experience on his side.
There was for Ben during the 40's a time of striving for the basics for western agriculture. Ben was at the very grassroots, organizing for the Farmer's Union in Rocky Mountain states.
He understood the crying need for farmers to organize -- a need that, till the end, he held high in his priorities and in his hopes for the future to assure agriculture producers a sufficient voice to assert and claim adequate policies for price and management for this, our best, biggest and most basic of American industries.
Ben never gave up on that. The Farmers' Union and the National Farmers' Organization knew his efforts firsthand, but all farm and agricultural commodity organizations benefited from Ben's progressive influence in drafting major farm legislation covering a span of more than two decades.
His style was as refreshing as spring. When he drafted legislative language, a bill or an amendment, it was concise, clear, direct -- a welcome relief from much of the foggy legislative language we see in what we sometimes call "Foggy Bottom."
We cannot understand Ben's strength of character and will, unless we relate it to the strength and will power he demonstrated to reject the personal use of alcohol during the last half of his life. It was his strength to overcome what had been for him an abuse -- his rejection of personally indulging in alcoholic beverages was complete, and he persistently was willing to assist others who needed and would accept guidance on the use of alcohol.
Ben was at home with the soil and growing plants. His dahlias were sweepstakes winners -- they reflected the magnificent beauty he understood and appreciated in the harmony of earth and water -- plant and animal life.
In 1955, when Ben joined Senator James Murray and the Senate Interior Committee staff, his conservation leadership blossomed and bore fruit.
He fathered the Wilderness Act, convincing Murray that the Senate Committee should hold hearings. And out of those initial hearings in the 50's the Wilderness advocacy of a few became the national will, and passage of the Wilderness Act resulted in 1964.
By then Ben was with Senator George McGovern and drafted the Voluntary Wheat Certificate Plan, successfully sponsored and brought to enactment by Senator McGovern.
Ben's honors included recognition in 1967 as a lifetime member of the Soil Conservation Service, American Motors Conservation Award in 1964, East River Co-op Service Award in 1968, George W. Norris Award of Western States Water and Power Consumers' Conference in 1966.
Ben was proud of membership in the Darrow Conference on Mathematical Probabilities -- he listed it in his resume. He should also have noted he was one of the founders of this illustrious group that met periodically to out-bluff or out-draw each other in the mathematical probability of poker.
He was good at poker and attempted to pass on this skill to his grandchildren when a big blizzard made him snowbound with Norma and Joe Lyon on their Iowa farm. Ben ran the poker game during those 5 days, teaching the grandkids the mathematical probabilities, using toothpicks for poker chips.
Ben was a most generous person with his time. He was patient and although many sought his help, his counsel or his judgment that kept him always busy, he gave of his time to all his friends and fellow workers. Of an early morning or late evening sitting at his desk with his feet propped on a corner, puffing on a cigarette (he loved nicotine) and with his fancy, attractive cuff links, one could find the almost unbounded range of Ben's interests and the depths of his understanding of the need of people for government -- a better government.
Ben staunchly advocated balanced growth for the U.S. with reasonable regulations that did not interfere unduly or stymie the free enterprise system. Above all, he had faith in the ability of people to come together and discern what was in the public interest and for the common good.
He was concerned for the underprivileged, for the poor and the hungry.
He related trade policies to needs of people.
He related Food Stamps as essential for the hungry poor.
Food for Peace for starving people abroad.
Compassion for refugees seeking our help -- not a popular issue right now but one on which Ben spoke out.
Health needs for all who were in need.
Ben knew and practiced Charity in the broadest sense.
He had no time for grudges. While I do not believe he hated anyone, he had firm disdain for fraud or phoniness.
His time was spent in doing good for people. He did that without restriction and for so many that it can be said "if each person for whom he did some kind of loving service would bring a blossom to Ben's grave, he would sleep forever beneath a cover of flowers that he loved so much."
Often he was asked, "Ben why don't you write a book?"
He was too busy with all of us to write that book.
But in a sense he wrote a book -- a big book --
He gave of himself so much that each of us are a chapter in his book.
Ben's only book.
How good a book Ben left us depends upon us.
It depends upon whether we preserve the counsel, the love, he gave us.
It depends on how we pursue the goals he guided us toward.
It depends on us to successfully advance the principles he wrote and spoke for which he continually fought.
We have all gained from Ben.
Did I tell you "Thanks, Ben?"
We do thank you, Ben.
Did I tell you "I love you, Ben?"
We do love you, Ben.
Thanks, God, for letting us have Ben as long as we could --
But, Oh, how we miss you, Ben.
God love you, Ben.
Ben became a reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel in 1927. On the tenth anniversary of the founding of KNS, 21 Nov 1931, he became Editor.
When Ben and Elsa got married and found out they had no furniture, Benton made their furniture out of piano boxes. He also made hooked rugs which won second prize in the Tennessee State Fair.
EULOGY TO BEN STONG
By Senator John Melcher
At Memorial Services, Arlington, Virginia September 9, 1980
Family of Ben --
Friends of Ben --
Last Saturday morning Ben's sojourn with us came to a close.
http://showcase.netins.net/web/mewnlite/eulogy.htm
It was 75 years and a few months. Ben's was an active life -- until only one week before, from the last Saturday in August, when he entered Sibley Hospital under his own power, until Saturday morning, September 6, when cardiac arrest ended three-quarters of a century during which Ben was many things to many people.
Ben was wise.
Ben was experienced. He was real.
Ben was articulate.
Ben was resourceful -- his memory remarkable.
Ben was helpful -- always available.
Ben was strong -- always compassionate.
Ben was fun.
Ben loved people.
Ben loved life.
He lived with zest.
He relished confrontation.
Engaged in debate with good humor, honor and truth.
The very essence of Ben was the combination of all these attributes. All joined and blended into his character. Then all of it was coupled with his remarkable energy that sorted Ben out from the pack and distinguished him among men as the
Stalwart sage of agriculture --
Leader of the conservation movement --
An expert on water development --
An effective proponent of rural electrics --
A determined advocate of a better economy and a better life for all of rural America.
How did this man come to mean so much to so many?
What gave Ben his drive, his vigor in pursuing goals -- to continually strive to help and to prod and to persuade people in government to make good, honest and progressive decisions?
Let's look back -- his roots were in Iowa -- born in the village of Keosauqua in 1905, the son of Ben and Ada Stong and the brother of Phil and Jo. Ben, Sr. ran the town's general store and was the Postmaster. His grandfather had tried the California Gold Rush but was known better in Iowa as the founder of lowa's first State Fair. That may have been an inspiration to Ben's brother Phil, who wrote the novel, later a great screen play -- "State Fair." Brother Jo became a banker-lawyer -- two professions Ben loved to chide with puckish, populist flair.
Ben received a degree in Journalism from Drake University, Class of 1927. He reported first for the Des Moines Register. He was confident, energetic, brash, fun-loving, occasionally a hell-raiser, and he pursued with enthusiasm a highly successful journalistic career for a decade or more with Scripps-Howard papers. These included first their paper in Cleveland, Ohio, then, State Capitol Bureau Chief at Nashville, Tennessee, editor of the News Sentinel at Knoxville, and later as Scripps- Howard's Washington correspondent.
Ben's style of writing was direct and clear. His style was honest and pointed -- depth and plenty of punch. That style came natural for Ben because that was the way his thoughts flowed from his mind. No phoniness -- he did not need gimmicks -- he had truth, knowledge, experience on his side.
There was for Ben during the 40's a time of striving for the basics for western agriculture. Ben was at the very grassroots, organizing for the Farmer's Union in Rocky Mountain states.
He understood the crying need for farmers to organize -- a need that, till the end, he held high in his priorities and in his hopes for the future to assure agriculture producers a sufficient voice to assert and claim adequate policies for price and management for this, our best, biggest and most basic of American industries.
Ben never gave up on that. The Farmers' Union and the National Farmers' Organization knew his efforts firsthand, but all farm and agricultural commodity organizations benefited from Ben's progressive influence in drafting major farm legislation covering a span of more than two decades.
His style was as refreshing as spring. When he drafted legislative language, a bill or an amendment, it was concise, clear, direct -- a welcome relief from much of the foggy legislative language we see in what we sometimes call "Foggy Bottom."
We cannot understand Ben's strength of character and will, unless we relate it to the strength and will power he demonstrated to reject the personal use of alcohol during the last half of his life. It was his strength to overcome what had been for him an abuse -- his rejection of personally indulging in alcoholic beverages was complete, and he persistently was willing to assist others who needed and would accept guidance on the use of alcohol.
Ben was at home with the soil and growing plants. His dahlias were sweepstakes winners -- they reflected the magnificent beauty he understood and appreciated in the harmony of earth and water -- plant and animal life.
In 1955, when Ben joined Senator James Murray and the Senate Interior Committee staff, his conservation leadership blossomed and bore fruit.
He fathered the Wilderness Act, convincing Murray that the Senate Committee should hold hearings. And out of those initial hearings in the 50's the Wilderness advocacy of a few became the national will, and passage of the Wilderness Act resulted in 1964.
By then Ben was with Senator George McGovern and drafted the Voluntary Wheat Certificate Plan, successfully sponsored and brought to enactment by Senator McGovern.
Ben's honors included recognition in 1967 as a lifetime member of the Soil Conservation Service, American Motors Conservation Award in 1964, East River Co-op Service Award in 1968, George W. Norris Award of Western States Water and Power Consumers' Conference in 1966.
Ben was proud of membership in the Darrow Conference on Mathematical Probabilities -- he listed it in his resume. He should also have noted he was one of the founders of this illustrious group that met periodically to out-bluff or out-draw each other in the mathematical probability of poker.
He was good at poker and attempted to pass on this skill to his grandchildren when a big blizzard made him snowbound with Norma and Joe Lyon on their Iowa farm. Ben ran the poker game during those 5 days, teaching the grandkids the mathematical probabilities, using toothpicks for poker chips.
Ben was a most generous person with his time. He was patient and although many sought his help, his counsel or his judgment that kept him always busy, he gave of his time to all his friends and fellow workers. Of an early morning or late evening sitting at his desk with his feet propped on a corner, puffing on a cigarette (he loved nicotine) and with his fancy, attractive cuff links, one could find the almost unbounded range of Ben's interests and the depths of his understanding of the need of people for government -- a better government.
Ben staunchly advocated balanced growth for the U.S. with reasonable regulations that did not interfere unduly or stymie the free enterprise system. Above all, he had faith in the ability of people to come together and discern what was in the public interest and for the common good.
He was concerned for the underprivileged, for the poor and the hungry.
He related trade policies to needs of people.
He related Food Stamps as essential for the hungry poor.
Food for Peace for starving people abroad.
Compassion for refugees seeking our help -- not a popular issue right now but one on which Ben spoke out.
Health needs for all who were in need.
Ben knew and practiced Charity in the broadest sense.
He had no time for grudges. While I do not believe he hated anyone, he had firm disdain for fraud or phoniness.
His time was spent in doing good for people. He did that without restriction and for so many that it can be said "if each person for whom he did some kind of loving service would bring a blossom to Ben's grave, he would sleep forever beneath a cover of flowers that he loved so much."
Often he was asked, "Ben why don't you write a book?"
He was too busy with all of us to write that book.
But in a sense he wrote a book -- a big book --
He gave of himself so much that each of us are a chapter in his book.
Ben's only book.
How good a book Ben left us depends upon us.
It depends upon whether we preserve the counsel, the love, he gave us.
It depends on how we pursue the goals he guided us toward.
It depends on us to successfully advance the principles he wrote and spoke for which he continually fought.
We have all gained from Ben.
Did I tell you "Thanks, Ben?"
We do thank you, Ben.
Did I tell you "I love you, Ben?"
We do love you, Ben.
Thanks, God, for letting us have Ben as long as we could --
But, Oh, how we miss you, Ben.
God love you, Ben.
Married LaVerne, and parents of Norma (Lyon), Ben, Michael and Jo Stong.
Ben became a reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel in 1927. On the tenth anniversary of the founding of KNS, 21 Nov 1931, he became Editor.
When Ben and Elsa got married and found out they had no furniture, Benton made their furniture out of piano boxes. He also made hooked rugs which won second prize in the Tennessee State Fair.
EULOGY TO BEN STONG
By Senator John Melcher
At Memorial Services, Arlington, Virginia September 9, 1980
Family of Ben --
Friends of Ben --
Last Saturday morning Ben's sojourn with us came to a close.
http://showcase.netins.net/web/mewnlite/eulogy.htm
It was 75 years and a few months. Ben's was an active life -- until only one week before, from the last Saturday in August, when he entered Sibley Hospital under his own power, until Saturday morning, September 6, when cardiac arrest ended three-quarters of a century during which Ben was many things to many people.
Ben was wise.
Ben was experienced. He was real.
Ben was articulate.
Ben was resourceful -- his memory remarkable.
Ben was helpful -- always available.
Ben was strong -- always compassionate.
Ben was fun.
Ben loved people.
Ben loved life.
He lived with zest.
He relished confrontation.
Engaged in debate with good humor, honor and truth.
The very essence of Ben was the combination of all these attributes. All joined and blended into his character. Then all of it was coupled with his remarkable energy that sorted Ben out from the pack and distinguished him among men as the
Stalwart sage of agriculture --
Leader of the conservation movement --
An expert on water development --
An effective proponent of rural electrics --
A determined advocate of a better economy and a better life for all of rural America.
How did this man come to mean so much to so many?
What gave Ben his drive, his vigor in pursuing goals -- to continually strive to help and to prod and to persuade people in government to make good, honest and progressive decisions?
Let's look back -- his roots were in Iowa -- born in the village of Keosauqua in 1905, the son of Ben and Ada Stong and the brother of Phil and Jo. Ben, Sr. ran the town's general store and was the Postmaster. His grandfather had tried the California Gold Rush but was known better in Iowa as the founder of lowa's first State Fair. That may have been an inspiration to Ben's brother Phil, who wrote the novel, later a great screen play -- "State Fair." Brother Jo became a banker-lawyer -- two professions Ben loved to chide with puckish, populist flair.
Ben received a degree in Journalism from Drake University, Class of 1927. He reported first for the Des Moines Register. He was confident, energetic, brash, fun-loving, occasionally a hell-raiser, and he pursued with enthusiasm a highly successful journalistic career for a decade or more with Scripps-Howard papers. These included first their paper in Cleveland, Ohio, then, State Capitol Bureau Chief at Nashville, Tennessee, editor of the News Sentinel at Knoxville, and later as Scripps- Howard's Washington correspondent.
Ben's style of writing was direct and clear. His style was honest and pointed -- depth and plenty of punch. That style came natural for Ben because that was the way his thoughts flowed from his mind. No phoniness -- he did not need gimmicks -- he had truth, knowledge, experience on his side.
There was for Ben during the 40's a time of striving for the basics for western agriculture. Ben was at the very grassroots, organizing for the Farmer's Union in Rocky Mountain states.
He understood the crying need for farmers to organize -- a need that, till the end, he held high in his priorities and in his hopes for the future to assure agriculture producers a sufficient voice to assert and claim adequate policies for price and management for this, our best, biggest and most basic of American industries.
Ben never gave up on that. The Farmers' Union and the National Farmers' Organization knew his efforts firsthand, but all farm and agricultural commodity organizations benefited from Ben's progressive influence in drafting major farm legislation covering a span of more than two decades.
His style was as refreshing as spring. When he drafted legislative language, a bill or an amendment, it was concise, clear, direct -- a welcome relief from much of the foggy legislative language we see in what we sometimes call "Foggy Bottom."
We cannot understand Ben's strength of character and will, unless we relate it to the strength and will power he demonstrated to reject the personal use of alcohol during the last half of his life. It was his strength to overcome what had been for him an abuse -- his rejection of personally indulging in alcoholic beverages was complete, and he persistently was willing to assist others who needed and would accept guidance on the use of alcohol.
Ben was at home with the soil and growing plants. His dahlias were sweepstakes winners -- they reflected the magnificent beauty he understood and appreciated in the harmony of earth and water -- plant and animal life.
In 1955, when Ben joined Senator James Murray and the Senate Interior Committee staff, his conservation leadership blossomed and bore fruit.
He fathered the Wilderness Act, convincing Murray that the Senate Committee should hold hearings. And out of those initial hearings in the 50's the Wilderness advocacy of a few became the national will, and passage of the Wilderness Act resulted in 1964.
By then Ben was with Senator George McGovern and drafted the Voluntary Wheat Certificate Plan, successfully sponsored and brought to enactment by Senator McGovern.
Ben's honors included recognition in 1967 as a lifetime member of the Soil Conservation Service, American Motors Conservation Award in 1964, East River Co-op Service Award in 1968, George W. Norris Award of Western States Water and Power Consumers' Conference in 1966.
Ben was proud of membership in the Darrow Conference on Mathematical Probabilities -- he listed it in his resume. He should also have noted he was one of the founders of this illustrious group that met periodically to out-bluff or out-draw each other in the mathematical probability of poker.
He was good at poker and attempted to pass on this skill to his grandchildren when a big blizzard made him snowbound with Norma and Joe Lyon on their Iowa farm. Ben ran the poker game during those 5 days, teaching the grandkids the mathematical probabilities, using toothpicks for poker chips.
Ben was a most generous person with his time. He was patient and although many sought his help, his counsel or his judgment that kept him always busy, he gave of his time to all his friends and fellow workers. Of an early morning or late evening sitting at his desk with his feet propped on a corner, puffing on a cigarette (he loved nicotine) and with his fancy, attractive cuff links, one could find the almost unbounded range of Ben's interests and the depths of his understanding of the need of people for government -- a better government.
Ben staunchly advocated balanced growth for the U.S. with reasonable regulations that did not interfere unduly or stymie the free enterprise system. Above all, he had faith in the ability of people to come together and discern what was in the public interest and for the common good.
He was concerned for the underprivileged, for the poor and the hungry.
He related trade policies to needs of people.
He related Food Stamps as essential for the hungry poor.
Food for Peace for starving people abroad.
Compassion for refugees seeking our help -- not a popular issue right now but one on which Ben spoke out.
Health needs for all who were in need.
Ben knew and practiced Charity in the broadest sense.
He had no time for grudges. While I do not believe he hated anyone, he had firm disdain for fraud or phoniness.
His time was spent in doing good for people. He did that without restriction and for so many that it can be said "if each person for whom he did some kind of loving service would bring a blossom to Ben's grave, he would sleep forever beneath a cover of flowers that he loved so much."
Often he was asked, "Ben why don't you write a book?"
He was too busy with all of us to write that book.
But in a sense he wrote a book -- a big book --
He gave of himself so much that each of us are a chapter in his book.
Ben's only book.
How good a book Ben left us depends upon us.
It depends upon whether we preserve the counsel, the love, he gave us.
It depends on how we pursue the goals he guided us toward.
It depends on us to successfully advance the principles he wrote and spoke for which he continually fought.
We have all gained from Ben.
Did I tell you "Thanks, Ben?"
We do thank you, Ben.
Did I tell you "I love you, Ben?"
We do love you, Ben.
Thanks, God, for letting us have Ben as long as we could --
But, Oh, how we miss you, Ben.
God love you, Ben.
Ben became a reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel in 1927. On the tenth anniversary of the founding of KNS, 21 Nov 1931, he became Editor.
When Ben and Elsa got married and found out they had no furniture, Benton made their furniture out of piano boxes. He also made hooked rugs which won second prize in the Tennessee State Fair.
EULOGY TO BEN STONG
By Senator John Melcher
At Memorial Services, Arlington, Virginia September 9, 1980
Family of Ben --
Friends of Ben --
Last Saturday morning Ben's sojourn with us came to a close.
http://showcase.netins.net/web/mewnlite/eulogy.htm
It was 75 years and a few months. Ben's was an active life -- until only one week before, from the last Saturday in August, when he entered Sibley Hospital under his own power, until Saturday morning, September 6, when cardiac arrest ended three-quarters of a century during which Ben was many things to many people.
Ben was wise.
Ben was experienced. He was real.
Ben was articulate.
Ben was resourceful -- his memory remarkable.
Ben was helpful -- always available.
Ben was strong -- always compassionate.
Ben was fun.
Ben loved people.
Ben loved life.
He lived with zest.
He relished confrontation.
Engaged in debate with good humor, honor and truth.
The very essence of Ben was the combination of all these attributes. All joined and blended into his character. Then all of it was coupled with his remarkable energy that sorted Ben out from the pack and distinguished him among men as the
Stalwart sage of agriculture --
Leader of the conservation movement --
An expert on water development --
An effective proponent of rural electrics --
A determined advocate of a better economy and a better life for all of rural America.
How did this man come to mean so much to so many?
What gave Ben his drive, his vigor in pursuing goals -- to continually strive to help and to prod and to persuade people in government to make good, honest and progressive decisions?
Let's look back -- his roots were in Iowa -- born in the village of Keosauqua in 1905, the son of Ben and Ada Stong and the brother of Phil and Jo. Ben, Sr. ran the town's general store and was the Postmaster. His grandfather had tried the California Gold Rush but was known better in Iowa as the founder of lowa's first State Fair. That may have been an inspiration to Ben's brother Phil, who wrote the novel, later a great screen play -- "State Fair." Brother Jo became a banker-lawyer -- two professions Ben loved to chide with puckish, populist flair.
Ben received a degree in Journalism from Drake University, Class of 1927. He reported first for the Des Moines Register. He was confident, energetic, brash, fun-loving, occasionally a hell-raiser, and he pursued with enthusiasm a highly successful journalistic career for a decade or more with Scripps-Howard papers. These included first their paper in Cleveland, Ohio, then, State Capitol Bureau Chief at Nashville, Tennessee, editor of the News Sentinel at Knoxville, and later as Scripps- Howard's Washington correspondent.
Ben's style of writing was direct and clear. His style was honest and pointed -- depth and plenty of punch. That style came natural for Ben because that was the way his thoughts flowed from his mind. No phoniness -- he did not need gimmicks -- he had truth, knowledge, experience on his side.
There was for Ben during the 40's a time of striving for the basics for western agriculture. Ben was at the very grassroots, organizing for the Farmer's Union in Rocky Mountain states.
He understood the crying need for farmers to organize -- a need that, till the end, he held high in his priorities and in his hopes for the future to assure agriculture producers a sufficient voice to assert and claim adequate policies for price and management for this, our best, biggest and most basic of American industries.
Ben never gave up on that. The Farmers' Union and the National Farmers' Organization knew his efforts firsthand, but all farm and agricultural commodity organizations benefited from Ben's progressive influence in drafting major farm legislation covering a span of more than two decades.
His style was as refreshing as spring. When he drafted legislative language, a bill or an amendment, it was concise, clear, direct -- a welcome relief from much of the foggy legislative language we see in what we sometimes call "Foggy Bottom."
We cannot understand Ben's strength of character and will, unless we relate it to the strength and will power he demonstrated to reject the personal use of alcohol during the last half of his life. It was his strength to overcome what had been for him an abuse -- his rejection of personally indulging in alcoholic beverages was complete, and he persistently was willing to assist others who needed and would accept guidance on the use of alcohol.
Ben was at home with the soil and growing plants. His dahlias were sweepstakes winners -- they reflected the magnificent beauty he understood and appreciated in the harmony of earth and water -- plant and animal life.
In 1955, when Ben joined Senator James Murray and the Senate Interior Committee staff, his conservation leadership blossomed and bore fruit.
He fathered the Wilderness Act, convincing Murray that the Senate Committee should hold hearings. And out of those initial hearings in the 50's the Wilderness advocacy of a few became the national will, and passage of the Wilderness Act resulted in 1964.
By then Ben was with Senator George McGovern and drafted the Voluntary Wheat Certificate Plan, successfully sponsored and brought to enactment by Senator McGovern.
Ben's honors included recognition in 1967 as a lifetime member of the Soil Conservation Service, American Motors Conservation Award in 1964, East River Co-op Service Award in 1968, George W. Norris Award of Western States Water and Power Consumers' Conference in 1966.
Ben was proud of membership in the Darrow Conference on Mathematical Probabilities -- he listed it in his resume. He should also have noted he was one of the founders of this illustrious group that met periodically to out-bluff or out-draw each other in the mathematical probability of poker.
He was good at poker and attempted to pass on this skill to his grandchildren when a big blizzard made him snowbound with Norma and Joe Lyon on their Iowa farm. Ben ran the poker game during those 5 days, teaching the grandkids the mathematical probabilities, using toothpicks for poker chips.
Ben was a most generous person with his time. He was patient and although many sought his help, his counsel or his judgment that kept him always busy, he gave of his time to all his friends and fellow workers. Of an early morning or late evening sitting at his desk with his feet propped on a corner, puffing on a cigarette (he loved nicotine) and with his fancy, attractive cuff links, one could find the almost unbounded range of Ben's interests and the depths of his understanding of the need of people for government -- a better government.
Ben staunchly advocated balanced growth for the U.S. with reasonable regulations that did not interfere unduly or stymie the free enterprise system. Above all, he had faith in the ability of people to come together and discern what was in the public interest and for the common good.
He was concerned for the underprivileged, for the poor and the hungry.
He related trade policies to needs of people.
He related Food Stamps as essential for the hungry poor.
Food for Peace for starving people abroad.
Compassion for refugees seeking our help -- not a popular issue right now but one on which Ben spoke out.
Health needs for all who were in need.
Ben knew and practiced Charity in the broadest sense.
He had no time for grudges. While I do not believe he hated anyone, he had firm disdain for fraud or phoniness.
His time was spent in doing good for people. He did that without restriction and for so many that it can be said "if each person for whom he did some kind of loving service would bring a blossom to Ben's grave, he would sleep forever beneath a cover of flowers that he loved so much."
Often he was asked, "Ben why don't you write a book?"
He was too busy with all of us to write that book.
But in a sense he wrote a book -- a big book --
He gave of himself so much that each of us are a chapter in his book.
Ben's only book.
How good a book Ben left us depends upon us.
It depends upon whether we preserve the counsel, the love, he gave us.
It depends on how we pursue the goals he guided us toward.
It depends on us to successfully advance the principles he wrote and spoke for which he continually fought.
We have all gained from Ben.
Did I tell you "Thanks, Ben?"
We do thank you, Ben.
Did I tell you "I love you, Ben?"
We do love you, Ben.
Thanks, God, for letting us have Ben as long as we could --
But, Oh, how we miss you, Ben.
God love you, Ben.
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