I’m enjoying reading the memories and memorials being shared for John Lewis this morning. I have three.
At the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston, I shared a few minutes with Rep. Lewis while he waited for his scheduled satellite time for an interview at the Democratic News Service where I was working. It was just him and I, and though I can’t recall what small talk we shared, I’ll never forget how genuine he was. He was completely unrushed (not a typical description of any Member of Congress), and in the moment, as if those few moments with an anonymous staffer were as important as his upcoming interview.
I’m proud of the fact that in 2008, my team at NGPVAN built his campaign website. I see they still host his current site today. So I likely still have a few keystrokes somewhere in johnlewisforcongress.com
And most recently, in 2016, my walk from the Metro to my office at Winning Connections would take me past Rep. Lewis’ home on Capitol Hill, and I would sometimes see him leaving for work in the morning. I’m not typically the type to pester a public figure who’s just going about their life, but my daughter had recently given me the first volume of the graphic memoir of his life ‘March’ as a gift, and walking past him on the sidewalk, I stopped to say hello, introduce myself, and tell him about the gift. “What is your daughter’s name?”, he asked. “Katie”. “Well thank Katie for me, and I hope you enjoy the book.”
The book opens on January 20, 2009 – Barack Obama’s first inauguration day, with Rep. Lewis waking early on a cold morning for what will be a historic, but still long and hectic day ahead. At his office on Capitol Hill, met by a mother who brought her two young boys to the inauguration, and took them just to see John Lewis’ office, she’s surprised both at getting the opportunity to meet him personally, and his unrushed generosity of his time, as he shares his story with her boys. It would be easy to doubt that setup, but having experienced it myself, I knew it to be genuine.
Rest in Power John Lewis. And thank you for what you made of your time on Earth.