Mike O'Callaghan

Mike O'Callaghan 05-05-05

I rise to support this resolution with tears in my eyes, but joy in my heart. Tears because of my profound sadness that Mike O'Callaghan is no longer physically with us, but joy from having known him and benefited from his guidance and kindness.

Several years ago a Las Vegas newspaper ran a great series on "The First 100 of Nevada". Of course, Mike O'Callaghan was one of the featured 100. I recommend the article to all of you because it does an excellent job of capturing the essence of "The Popular Pugilist", a war hero and a rough-and-tumble politician who never retired into anonymity, but instead continued to shape public opinion and policy through his newspaper column.

Over the years, I went to Governor O'Callaghan on many occasions for advice; sometimes he called and gave it to me unsolicited. He never told me what to do, but his wise counsel always helped me to work out difficult decisions on my own.

Everyone in Democratic politics, and even many Republicans, knew you had to go kiss Mike's ring before jumping into a race. He consistently denied that his blessing would make any difference, but we all knew better.

My family has a long history with Governor O'Callaghan that transcends my political apprenticeship. "Iron Mike" was a student of my father-in-law, John Wright, in the history department at UNLV and he often came to the house to take exams at their kitchen table, because he was working several jobs and had to miss the regularly scheduled class. And years later, my husband Tom worked for Mike, during the summers when home from college. Mike was director of juvenile court services at that time and Tom's job was driving boys "who'd been cutting up" to the facility in Elko. After Tom let a few escape in Tonopah and had to find and recapture them, Mike decided maybe Tom wasn't cut out for law enforcement.

Nevada began to "grow up" under the leadership of Governor O'Callaghan. The state and its citizens, from the most affluent to the least fortunate, will be forever indebted to him. His legacy can be seen and felt all around us everyday. It is truly a living legacy, which is the best kind of memorial and the most appropriate kind for a man like Mike O'Callaghan, who was larger than life. He was truly a man of the people, both loved and feared. As the aforementioned article concludes, "Right hand ready for a handshake. The other ready for a left hook." That was Mike O'Callaghan. And that's what everyone in public life should aspire to be.

http://www.leg.state.nv.us/titus/docs/050505_MikeOCallaghan.pdf