Discovery Institute president Steven Buri reached me with the hard news that our greatly valued colleague, Slade Gorton, has died. He was 92, having lived an extraordinarily productive — and exemplary — life. He was a trusted member of the Discovery Institute Board for almost two decades, always pithy and smart. But long before his time on our Board he was an ally and friend for many of us. I have stories about Slade that go back to the early 1960s!

And I don’t think it is widely enough recognized how Slade, after his 40-year political career, continued to nurture newcomers, particularly young people whom he considered to have leadership promise. In coming days there will be myriad tributes to this fine man and his legacy in principles, policy, and people. Please join me in saluting his memory and expressing gratitude for his friendship and service. Some will submit that his kind are gone, but I know that they are still around, because he helped get them there.