Joe Manchin: “only a few people in your lifetime stand out as people of the highest caliber, people who truly care about making the…”

“only a few people in your lifetime stand out as people of the highest caliber, people who truly care about making the world a better place not only for the present generation but also for the next generation and many generations to come. My dear friend Mike Puskar was one of those rare people. My wife Gayle and I consider ourselves extremely lucky to have even known a man of his caliber, let alone be dear friends with him for many years. Mike passed away on Friday after a long battle against cancer. I first met Mike in the early 1980s before the start of a football game in the then-gravel parking lot at the WVU stadium, a place we both truly loved. The generator in his motor home was not working, and, luckily, the generator in my brother's RV that I was using did work. So Mike plugged into our RV that day, and we were plugged in thereafter. Mike was a man whose friendship was unconditional. It was not about whether you lined up exactly with his beliefs. He supported you as a person. Mike dedicated his life to helping others and to making a real lasting impact in West Virginia. He had a tremendous heart and a strong sense of giving. Mike truly epitomized the word ``friend'' at every level. We can see Mike's handprint everywhere--at West Virginia University, at Mylan Park, and in charitable organizations throughout West Virginia that serve those in need. Mike loved to build things--whether it was his company or the waterfront in Morgantown.…”