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Sen. Norris celebrated as one of the 'Sons of Wild Jackasses'
McCOOK, Neb. -- During his many years in the U.S. House and Senate, one of the taunts George W. Norris endured from his opponents was that he was 'one of the 'Sons of the Wild Jackasses.'"
That was meant to belittle and demean Norris, but the speaker at this morning's Heritage Breakfast, the Rev. Dr. Charles Peek, said Norris's unpredictability and independence were essential elements of his greatness.
"Exceptionally intelligent life walked these very streets," Dr. Peek said of McCook and its citizens, referring not only to Sen. Norris and Harry Strunk, but also to ordinary folks.
"My point today," Dr. Peek emphasized, "is, I think, more important than whose side who was on. My point is that we don't always have to agree with each other to respect each other and work together for the common good."
Continuing, the speaker declared, "Very often to those without vision those with vision seem like children of the wild asses. Surely Norris was among them," and, thankfully if history is our guide, people of vision haven't ceased to be born, because, most assuredly, we need more of them.
Not only in McCook, but throughout Nebraska, examples exist of those with the vision and determination to make a difference, Dr. Peek said. The question these difference-makers asked, and the one that should continue to be asked as we go forward, is one posed by T.V. Golden, "Shall we hitch ourselves to the wagon of progress and assist in pulling the load, or shall we block the wheels by inertia, fault finding and denunciation."
During this morning's Heritage Breakfast, a special memorial tribute was paid to the late Flora Lundberg, McCook's first female mayor and the first president of the George W. Norris Foundation. Mrs. Lundberg, who passed away earlier this year, was the originator of the Prayer Breakfast and later led the Norris Foundation to take over sponsorship of the Heritage Breakfast.
Maggie Repass, secretary of the George W. Norris Foundation, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies and delivered the tribute to Mrs. Lundberg. The Rev. Clark Bates, the pastor of McCook Christian Church and a portrayer of Sen. Norris, gave the invocation, and Allison Tolliver, a McCook High School junior, presented two musical selections.
A crowd of 90, including the Heritage Days honorees, enjoyed the Heritage Breakfast catered by Matt Sehnert and his staff from Sehnert's Bakery and the Bieroc Cafe.