JIMMY KIRKPATRICK: MR. DEMOCRAT

One of Missouri's most liked and respected politicians was laid to rest this week. James C. Kirkpatrick, who served as secretary of state for two decades and who garnered more votes in his political career than any other official elected statewide, died at age 92.

Mr. Democrat was the affectionate -- and appropriate -- moniker given to Kirkpatrick, who was known as Jimmy by hundreds of friends and acquaintances around the state. He was particularly well-known among newspaper folks, because he had been one of them most of his life. He had worked for or owned several newspapers, and he was a familiar face at most every newspaper meeting held anywhere in the state.

Kirkpatrick himself attributed his popularity among voters to the fact that he was a Democrat only when campaigning for office. Once elected, it was "service, service, service to everyone regardless of party." That wasn't just a slogan for the man who loved to show his Irish roots by wearing green wherever he went. Indeed, it would be hard to find any Missourian who didn't get full service when dealing with the secretary of state's office while Kirkpatrick was in charge.