Henry Bellmon was my kind of politician. He worked hard. Tackled the tough challenges and didn't mind spending public money if the priorities were right. He didn't consider government the enemy.

He minced few words. A neighboring farmer told a fellow journalist that Mr. Bellmon "tasted his words before he spit them out." We should all be so circumspect in what we "spit out."

My presidency of the Oklahoma City Gridiron Club put us next to each other at the head table for the club's annual roast during Henry's second term as governor.

It was Henry and Shirley and Andy and Karen. We had a wonderful evening and when the political roasting began, Henry didn't mind a bit. He thanked me at the end and encouraged me to "keep those politicians honest."

My mother reminded me that she secretly donated to his 1962 campaign. Her family were John Kennedy Democrats and it was hard to admit supporting a Republican. But he was a fellow Oklahoma A--M graduate and she shook his weathered, calloused hands, signs of someone who knew how to work hard.

His degree was in agriculture. He said he wouldn't have made a good real estate salesman, banker or lawyer. Farming beats lawyering any day.

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Don't tell that to the nearly 1,700 lawyers and guests attending the OU College of Law's Centennial Celebration Thursday night at the John Q. Hammons Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center. (I couldn't even calculate the billable hours for that three hours-plus session.)

All those lawyers and not a single joke demeaning the profession. Or any profession for that matter. It was strictly business as retiring Dean Andy Coats introduced OU President David Boren who then introduced and conversed with Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Justice Kennedy, who was confirmed in a unanimous Senate vote, commented on the coarseness of society and the lack of civics education among the population.

"You can't defend what you do not know," he said.

The Constitution, Justice Kennedy said, wasn't written for a handful of the nation's elite.

"The Constitution doesn't belong to a bunch of judges and lawyers. It belongs to the people."

OU law students were dressed up and on their best behavior, even without an e-mail encouraging them to shine. Graduates from 1937 to 2009 were on hand and some are even hiring.

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