Cooperative Living January 2015 - 4

VIEWPOINT by Richard G. Johnstone Jr., Executive Editor
Vol. 69, No. 2
ISSN 1529-4579
RICHARD G. JOHNSTONE JR.
Executive Editor
BILL SHERROD
Editor
LAURA J. EMERY
Field Editor
JANET ROGERS BAILEY
Production Manager
LAURIE MILLS,
Apple Eye Studio, LLC
Graphic Designer
AMANDA S. CUNNINGHAM
Advertising Sales
SUSAN C. GLISSON
Advertising Assistant
To contact magazine:
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Phone: (804) 346-3344
Or at any time:
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Email: bsherrod@odec.com
Web: www.co-opliving.com
Published by the VA, MD & DE Association
of Electric Cooperatives
OLIN S. DAVIS III
Chairman
LARRY C. HOWDYSHELL
Vice Chairman
JAMES E. HUFFMAN
Secretary
HERBERT R. PATRICK
Treasurer
JACKSON E. REASOR
President
RICHARD G. JOHNSTONE JR.
Executive Vice President
Board of Directors: R. Wayne Browning, R. Dodd Obenshain,
A&N; Michael Sandridge, Michael J. Keyser,
BARC; George N. Goin, Jr., Gary E. Wood, Central Virginia;
Olin S. Davis III, Michael I. Wheatley, Choptank;
Jeannette S. Everett, Steven A. Harmon, Community;
James E. Huffman, Shawn C. Hildebrand, Craig-Botetourt;
Patricia S. Dorey, J. William Andrew, Delaware;
Fletcher B. Jones, John C. Lee, Jr., Mecklenburg;
J. Steve Thomas, Sr., Greg W. White, Northern Neck;
J. Manley Garber, Stan C. Feuerberg, Northern Virginia;
Dale McNiel, Randell W. Meyers, Powell Valley;
Herbert R. Patrick, M Dale Bradshaw, Prince George;
Richard C. Oliver, Kent D. Farmer, Rappahannock;
Larry C. Howdyshell, Myron D. Rummel, Shenandoah
Valley; Frank W. Bacon, Jeffrey S. Edwards, Southside.
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are accurately described and willingly sold
to customers at the advertised price. Neither this
magazine nor the electric cooperatives in Virginia,
Maryland, and Delaware endorses any
products or services advertised herein. If any
readers encounter non-compliance with these
standards, they are asked to inform the Editor.
CONSCIENCE AND
CHARACTER
his past Nov. 4, voters in Northern
Virginia's 10th Congressional District
encountered a sight that only those
in their mid-50s or older had ever seen: a
general election ballot without Frank Wolf's
name on it. Rep. Wolf, who retires from
Congress this month after 34 years of
stellar service to the people of Virginia and
the nation, first ran for the seat in the
Bicentennial year of 1976, narrowly losing
in the Republican primary. Two years later,
this time having won his party's nomination
unopposed, he lost the general election in
a close contest to incumbent Rep. Joseph
Fisher.
But his persistence would serve him,
and the people of the district whom he
would ultimately serve, very well indeed.
His third run for the office in 1980 would
prove to be the charm, as he narrowly
defeated Congressman Fisher in a rematch
of their 1978 contest. And following this
successful run, he never really had to look
back, handily winning reelection to what
would ultimately total 17 terms in office.
In a tribute to him last fall in its
editorial pages, the Richmond TimesDispatch
noted that " Wolf's tenure established
him as the conscience of the House. "
And, we'd like to add, as a person of
resolute character as well.
His impassioned pursuit of human rights
across the globe is the stuff of legislative
legend. From Iran to Sudan, to China and
Tibet, Rep. Wolf repeatedly spoke up for
individuals and groups that were being persecuted,
oftentimes for religious reasons,
while also working against the abominable
practice of human trafficking, and in all of
these efforts standing up to tyrannical leaders
and governments around the world.
2
T
Richard Johnstone
For a generation, Frank Wolf served the citizens of Virginia, and
Virginia's northern tier, both wisely and well as the House member from
the 10th Congressional District. But his long service also reached well
beyond our borders, as he gave a voice to the voiceless and hope to the
oppressed across the globe.
Back home, he also served the interests
of the 10th district well, working hard to
address day-to-day matters important to
average folks, including such routine but
critical issues as transportation.
In addition, he sounded an early and
urgent clarion call both to colleagues and
constituents about the growing threats to
our nation's physical - and in particular
our cyber - security, not merely from rogue
groups but also from established foreign
governments.
On electric cooperative issues, he was
open-minded and even-handed as he considered
the views of cooperative leaders on the
many electric utility, energy industry, environmental
and finance issues that affect your
cooperative, and that affect you, as well, as a
cooperative member-consumer.
Without fail, he would also generously
make time for the young people who visited
him at his Capitol Hill office each June as
part of the annual Electric Cooperative
Youth Tour of Washington, D.C. Even as
his seniority and visibility in the House
grew, his priorities always seemed grounded
in timeless things, like family, and faith,
and freedom.
In an era sadly marked by political
gridlock and polarization, Rep. Wolf was
an example of an elected official who
worked with, and was admired by, colleagues
of all political stripes. He was both principled
and practical, and in his unflappable,
understated way, served his fellow citizens
well for a generation.
And while his presence in the House of
Representatives will surely be missed, it's
comforting to know that the glow of conscience
and character he leaves behind is there to help
light the way for those who follow. 
Cooperative Living/January 2015
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living January 2015

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