Pubdate: Thu, 05 Jan 2012
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2012 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact: http://www.kentucky.com/369/
Website: http://www.kentucky.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240

GATEWOOD GALBRAITH: 1947-2012

In his autobiography, The Last Free Man in America: Meets the 
Synthetic Subversion, Gatewood Galbraith described his efforts to get 
the letters of recommendation he needed to take the bar exam.

As a University of Kentucky law student Galbraith had already taken 
up the campaign to legalize marijuana that he carried on until his 
death early Wednesday at the age of 64. He struck out when he 
approached some prominent men for letters. They initially agreed to 
endorse the young law student but changed course as they considered 
the impact of associating with a pro-pot radical.

So Mr. Galbraith turned to an electrician and two housekeepers who 
worked for the university. "We had spoken to each other almost every 
day over the last three years and I valued their friendship," he wrote.

Apparently the sentiment was returned. "You're the nicest guy who 
ever came through here and I think you'd make a great lawyer," he 
remembered one of them saying, and the other two agreed.

Their letters were ready the next day.

The story rings true to anyone who ever saw Mr. Galbraith on the 
campaign trail during his many unsuccessful attempts at public 
office, including his fifth race for governor last year. He never 
walked away from his beliefs to curry favor with the powers-that-be, 
he was friendly to everyone, and he was often the nicest guy when the 
candidates gathered.

He cared about Kentuckians, not as potential voters but as people.

Although known - and often dismissed - for his pro-marijuana stance, 
Mr. Galbraith was not a one-issue candidate.

He advocated outlawing mountaintop removal mining, modernizing 
Kentucky's antiquated tax system and giving high school graduates 
$5,000 for books, tuition and fees for college.

He raised very little money and didn't have public relations 
advisors, pollsters or party veterans to shape him into a more 
electable candidate.

He was much too independent for that. But he elevated the debate when 
candidates met, insisting on talking about how to solve Kentucky's 
myriad problems while his well-financed opponents slung rehearsed 
barbs and half-truths at each other.

We'll miss Mr. Galbraith. He was an independent thinker, a smart man 
who never hesitated to tell the truth as he saw it. And he was one of 
the nicest guys who ever came through here.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom