US-OBITS-L Archives

From: "Michelle :-\)" <>
Subject: [US-OBITS] FREEMAN, Oliver Star Tribune, MPLS, MN
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2003 22:12:01 -0500

Former Gov. Orville Freeman is honored at service at State Capitol
Kavita Kumar, Star Tribune

Published Feb. 28, 2003 ORV28


The 100 or so light bulbs in the crystal chandelier that hangs in the State Capitol's rotunda are lit only for special occasions such as gubernatorial inaugurations.

Thursday evening, they glowed again, illuminating the golden trim and deep blue of the dome, in tribute to former Gov. Orville L. Freeman.

"This building has always been very special to Orville," said his son, Michael. "He loved its majesty and how it symbolizes the strength and the decency of the people of Minnesota. Dad believed that there could be no higher calling than to do the people's business.

"So for Dad, this event is a homecoming. There could be no more fitting place for him than here."

More than a hundred family members, friends and dignitaries packed the rotunda to celebrate the life of one of the founding fathers of the modern DFL Party.

Freeman served three terms as governor from 1955-61 and two terms as U.S. secretary of agriculture under Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.

He died Feb. 20 at age 84.

The service was a gathering of many of the state's most accomplished politicians -- past, present and future -- including former Vice President Walter Mondale, who delivered the eulogy.

During Gov. Tim Pawlenty's remarks, he asked the Legislature to join him in naming the new Departments of Agriculture and Health building the Orville L. Freeman Building. He undraped a model and sketch of the structure, whose construction is expected to begin in the next few months.

"It is a modest but fitting tribute to his work, for his life and for his commitment and his service," Pawlenty said.

Later in the service, Michael Freeman thanked Pawlenty for the gesture: "Governor, you surprise us all with your generous offer."

Pawlenty remembered Freeman for his dedication to public service, for his combat experience during World War II in the South Pacific, for his "forward-looking and provocative" policies, for his overhaul of the state tax code that transferred more K-12 funding to the state and for developing a code of ethics.

There is no question that Minnesota did indeed lose one of its great oaks, he said.

"He lived to be almost 85 years old -- it was unquestionably a full and good life," Pawlenty said. "And if you measure life by what you give back, by what you do for public service, what you do for others, Orville Freeman's life was rich and long and full. It was unquestionably successful."

Mondale said Freeman was "one of the greatest public men in Minnesota's history."

"He believed in public service. He loved public life," Mondale said. "He nurtured our sense of Minnesota as a community, and he always stood for social justice."

'Education governor'

Freeman, who paid for his tuition at the University of Minnesota by scrubbing walls at its hospital and working summers on grain-harvesting crews, exemplified the limitless possibilities of education, Mondale said.

"Education opened up his world and he fought to provide the same for all who followed," he said. "Minnesota never had a better education governor."

Quoting from parts of a passage from "Henry V," Mondale said, "Shakespeare could have been writing about Freeman when he said:

"A good leg will fall, a straight back will stoop, a fair face will wither; but a good heart is the sun and the moon, or rather the sun and not the moon, for it shines bright and never changes but keeps his course truly.

"That's the thing about Orv -- he had a good heart and he kept his course true."

A bugler then played taps, the haunting notes of which echoed through the luminous rotunda and the halls of the Capitol.

But the final notes that lingered were those of an instrumental rendition of Freeman's alma mater's fight song, the "Minnesota Rouser."

This time, "hats off to thee" was for Freeman.

A "celebration of life" service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, W. 50th St. and Knox Av. S., Minneapolis.

This thread:

• [US-OBITS] FREEMAN, Oliver Star Tribune, MPLS, MN by "Michelle :-\)" <>