Political Quotes

“Madam President, we are about to begin the Memorial Day state work period and many of us will be traveling in our home states next week. I am blessed because I am going home to Alaska. Tomorrow I will be in Haines. This is a magnificent community in truly a magnificent State. But when I arrive in Haines, something will be missing, and that is the absence of two of Haines' most prominent citizens--John and Erma Schnabel. John Schnabel passed in March at the age of 96 years old, and Erma, his wife of 65 years, passed shortly thereafter at the age of 87. John was regarded by his family and the people of Haines as a living legend. If you don't believe that is true, or if you say all of us have living legends in our community, no less of an authority than People Magazine referred to John as a ``living legend'' in an article which noted his passing. He was not just a local legend. He was known the world over as ``Grandpa.'' He was the patriarch of the Discovery Channel series ``Gold Rush: Alaska.'' But to us Alaskans, he was simply one of the many exceptional people who populate our exceptional State. John was born in Kansas in 1920. He was the son of a wheat farmer. His father first moved to Alaska to seek a better life away from the Depression. He served in the military during World War II. He was a proud member of the American Legion. He married Erma in 1950 and they raised five kids. Returning to Haines, John entered the timber business. He owned a lumber mill in town.…”