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It was about a month-and-half ago during a DFL-7th District Central Committee meeting that members decided fifteen, going on 16, tireless sessions supporting rural constituents and democratic causes had been enough for Senator Gary Kubly.
A little recognition was in order.
“He’s been a real good legislator for our area,” said Hanley Falls farmer and DFL State Party Director Tim Velde. “It was something we decided we should do.”
Along with his wife, Connie, Tim said he was tasked to develop and spearhead an event the two envisioned as a relatively modest affair where friends, family, constituents and legislative co-workers could express their appreciation during an informal tribute lunch.
It would be both an opportunity for individuals to say thanks, as well as to offer support for the senator's final year at the Capitol where he is to set to face a Republican controlled legislature while battling progressively debilitating Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease.
Even as Velde’s own words overflowed with admiration for the Granite Falls senator and pastor, in the weeks leading up to the event he admitted that it never dawned on him that such an overwhelming number of people would jump at the opportunity to give a little back to the man that had offered so much and to so many, whether as a legislator, spiritual advisor or both.
And so the sunny, sunday afternoon in which 250 individuals purchased a tickets to eat lunch alongside Kubly exceeded the DFL Party Director’s expectations, even before the crowd topped over 300 as the program's start neared.
Amongst the audience sat U.S. Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar; Senate Minority leader, Tom Bakk; and former Speaker of the House, Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Only the last of the four did not stand to speak. Together they comprised but a small portion of the past and present legislators on hand .
Projecting from a podium and microphone, about a dozen distinguished speakers used equal parts humor and sincerity while articulating the pervasive joy and veneration for the Senator, and his wife, Pat––the notoriously voracious campaigner, offered commensurate esteem as such an essential component to her husband’s accomplishments.
Collectively, the speakers touched upon the rare combination of attributes that have endowed Senator Kubly with the ability to achieve the success that had touched so many lives.
And one had to wonder how rare exceptional wit came tantamount to wisdom? Or a capacity to lead that was equal to a willingness to listen? What about a dynamic faith that walked hand-in-hand with high powered reason?
With Kubly, they are a package deal.
As each prominent speaker pointed to the Granite Falls senator’s gifts, it served to verify what most locals already knew. And above all else the audience was awash in the gratification as they watched the Kubly’s receive a fitting due.
It was about a month-and-half ago during a DFL-7th District Central Committee meeting that members decided fifteen, going on 16, tireless sessions supporting rural constituents and democratic causes had been enough for Senator Gary Kubly.
A little recognition was in order.
“He’s been a real good legislator for our area,” said Hanley Falls farmer and DFL State Party Director Tim Velde. “It was something we decided we should do.”
Along with his wife, Connie, Tim said he was tasked to develop and spearhead an event the two envisioned as a relatively modest affair where friends, family, constituents and legislative co-workers could express their appreciation during an informal tribute lunch.
It would be both an opportunity for individuals to say thanks, as well as to offer support for the senator's final year at the Capitol where he is to set to face a Republican controlled legislature while battling progressively debilitating Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease.
Even as Velde’s own words overflowed with admiration for the Granite Falls senator and pastor, in the weeks leading up to the event he admitted that it never dawned on him that such an overwhelming number of people would jump at the opportunity to give a little back to the man that had offered so much and to so many, whether as a legislator, spiritual advisor or both.
And so the sunny, sunday afternoon in which 250 individuals purchased a tickets to eat lunch alongside Kubly exceeded the DFL Party Director’s expectations, even before the crowd topped over 300 as the program's start neared.
Amongst the audience sat U.S. Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar; Senate Minority leader, Tom Bakk; and former Speaker of the House, Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Only the last of the four did not stand to speak. Together they comprised but a small portion of the past and present legislators on hand .
Projecting from a podium and microphone, about a dozen distinguished speakers used equal parts humor and sincerity while articulating the pervasive joy and veneration for the Senator, and his wife, Pat––the notoriously voracious campaigner, offered commensurate esteem as such an essential component to her husband’s accomplishments.
Collectively, the speakers touched upon the rare combination of attributes that have endowed Senator Kubly with the ability to achieve the success that had touched so many lives.
And one had to wonder how rare exceptional wit came tantamount to wisdom? Or a capacity to lead that was equal to a willingness to listen? What about a dynamic faith that walked hand-in-hand with high powered reason?
With Kubly, they are a package deal.
As each prominent speaker pointed to the Granite Falls senator’s gifts, it served to verify what most locals already knew. And above all else the audience was awash in the gratification as they watched the Kubly’s receive a fitting due.
