Ed’s measured, engineered approach allowed him unparalleled success in forcing critical issues into the light of day, where they will now remain. However, that calm demeanor belied the passionate heart that beat within him. He was not oblivious to the slights, the condescension, he chose not to let it impede him. He dragged the suits by the scruff of their necks up to his level, in accordance with the rules of order they feign to observe.

And in doing so, he impoverished himself without a hint of complaint. Those in opposition to him would tender their resignations the moment the preposterous idea of laboring without compensation were raised. Ed battled away, with a positivity that is inspiring.

In speaking with his friends and family last night and remembering my conversations with him I realize there are two Eds. One a dearly loved family member, who felt deeply the worst consequence of true entrepreneurial leadership, the clawing fear and uneasiness of family members for your own well being, subtly or not so subtly, urging that he “get a job”. To which he would smile and shrug, recognizing their concern and renewing his resolve to move this region ahead.

And the public man, who privately had been a tireless advocate and compassionate caretaker for a disabled brother, honing his ability to question and reshape the status quo. He turned those skills into a one man force of nature, creating a legacy in the truest sense of the word. Let every young person who aspires to public service study this remarkable embodiment of free speech and citizenry. Let his family take solace in the knowledge that Ed indeed had a job, one few could handle, and did it well.

It occurs to me that Kipling’s admonition is an apt resume of the man Edward Hauser.

“If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!

–Rudyard Kipling

Thank you Ed.

From the discussion, I get the sense that some of you would like to work on the page for Ed but may be uncomfortable posting directly on wikipedia.

I’ve set up a page for Ed here: http://legistraight.org/wiki/Ed_Hauser

Feel free to edit away, if you need help, let me know. There is also a tutorial here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Tutorial

Once the page meets wikipedia standards (so that it won’t be deleted), it will be moved to wikipedia. If we need to meet at a coffee shop for a tutorial session, let me know.