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Last month, Senator Kit Bond announced that he will not run for reelection in 2010. Forty years ago, L.R. Hughes, the first president of Grand Order of Pachyderms, a service club for the Republican Party, informed me that he had scheduled the speaker for my installation luncheon as the second president of the Pachyderms. L. R. said the speaker will be Christopher “Kit” Bond, a state Assistant Attorney General. I replied, “Couldn’t you find someone with more visibility? I never heard of this guy.“ So much for my ability to identify future Missouri Republican political leaders!

At the luncheon, Mr. Bond gave an inspiring speech on what Republicans needed to do to at that time to advance the party’s principles and to elect more Republicans to the General Assembly and state offices.

Since then, I have followed his career with keen interest. He has served Missouri as State Auditor, Governor and United States Senator. I have been most impressed with his continuous commitment to Missouri and its citizens. Senator Bond has focused his work on transportation, housing, public works, and small business and used these committee assignments to benefit Missouri’s farms, industries, and businesses.

Senator Bond is deserving of our gratitude, congratulations, and best wishes in his retirement.

(The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of St. Louis Public Radio.)

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