Gov. Cecil Underwood was remembered Monday as a forward-thinking politician who eschewed partisan politics, and as as a loving father and grandfather whose dignified persona belied a sly sense of humor.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Gov. Cecil Underwood was remembered Monday as a forward-thinking politician who eschewed partisan politics, and as a loving father and grandfather whose dignified persona belied a sly sense of humor.
Family, friends, former administration members, and political allies and opponents alike filled the chapel of Christ Church United Methodist Monday morning for a nearly two-hour service remembering Underwood, who died Nov. 24 at age 86.
"Honor, dignity and class are very apt descriptions of not only Cecil Underwood the governor, but Cecil Underwood the man," grandson Chris Richardson said during the service.
Craig Underwood remembered his father as a futurist, who pushed for development of the interstate highway system in his first term (1957-61) and for West Virginia's participation in the information superhighway in his second term (1997-2001).
However, he said his father took greatest pride in smaller accomplishments, such as the creation of the Courtesy Patrol to aid stranded travelers, and to provide employment for jobless West Virginians.
"To my father, there were no people more important or better than others," Underwood said. "He also taught us that political opponents don't have to be personal enemies."
During his comments, Gov. Joe Manchin recognized some of the many politicians among the several hundred who attended the service, including Sen. Jay Rockefeller, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and Secretary of State Betty Ireland. He also recognized Capito's father, former Gov. Arch A. Moore Jr., a longtime rival of Underwood, and his wife Shelley.
"At one time in all our political lives, we've either run with him or against him," Manchin joked.
The governor said Underwood, though basically a shy person at heart, had innate political savvy that today's high-priced consultants can't provide.
In the 1996 election, when Underwood's age surfaced as a concern, Manchin said Underwood defused the issue at campaign appearances by stepping off his campaign bus and declaring, "I feel so refreshed and renewed after that nap."
Rev. Emerson Wood, who was Underwood's pastor for 18 years in Huntington and campaigned with him in 1996, recalled one incident on the trail that highlighted Underwood's honesty and integrity.
Wood said the campaign was in Pendleton County when word came that a national Republican political action committee had launched an attack ad against challenger Charlotte Pritt.
Though many politicians would have opted to remain silent, Wood noted, "He flew back to Charleston, called a press conference, and disavowed any responsibility for the negative ad and asked that it be discontinued."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Gov. Cecil Underwood was remembered Monday as a forward-thinking politician who eschewed partisan politics, and as a loving father and grandfather whose dignified persona belied a sly sense of humor.
Family, friends, former administration members, and political allies and opponents alike filled the chapel of Christ Church United Methodist Monday morning for a nearly two-hour service remembering Underwood, who died Nov. 24 at age 86.
"Honor, dignity and class are very apt descriptions of not only Cecil Underwood the governor, but Cecil Underwood the man," grandson Chris Richardson said during the service.
Craig Underwood remembered his father as a futurist, who pushed for development of the interstate highway system in his first term (1957-61) and for West Virginia's participation in the information superhighway in his second term (1997-2001).
However, he said his father took greatest pride in smaller accomplishments, such as the creation of the Courtesy Patrol to aid stranded travelers, and to provide employment for jobless West Virginians.
"To my father, there were no people more important or better than others," Underwood said. "He also taught us that political opponents don't have to be personal enemies."
During his comments, Gov. Joe Manchin recognized some of the many politicians among the several hundred who attended the service, including Sen. Jay Rockefeller, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and Secretary of State Betty Ireland. He also recognized Capito's father, former Gov. Arch A. Moore Jr., a longtime rival of Underwood, and his wife Shelley.
"At one time in all our political lives, we've either run with him or against him," Manchin joked.
The governor said Underwood, though basically a shy person at heart, had innate political savvy that today's high-priced consultants can't provide.
In the 1996 election, when Underwood's age surfaced as a concern, Manchin said Underwood defused the issue at campaign appearances by stepping off his campaign bus and declaring, "I feel so refreshed and renewed after that nap."
Rev. Emerson Wood, who was Underwood's pastor for 18 years in Huntington and campaigned with him in 1996, recalled one incident on the trail that highlighted Underwood's honesty and integrity.
Wood said the campaign was in Pendleton County when word came that a national Republican political action committee had launched an attack ad against challenger Charlotte Pritt.
Though many politicians would have opted to remain silent, Wood noted, "He flew back to Charleston, called a press conference, and disavowed any responsibility for the negative ad and asked that it be discontinued."
Manchin said it is no coincidence that Underwood was the youngest and oldest governor in the state's history.
"That alone says volumes about his ability to lead generations of West Virginians," he said.
Remembering the 1996 campaign, Richardson said that, as a boy, he feared that his grandfather's duties as candidate and as governor would limit the time he could spend with family.
However, Richardson recalled, "Even in the heat of the campaign, he remembered birthdays, made his way to basketball games, and even to the Little League park."
Despite the solemn nature of the ceremony, Richardson urged the audience to smile in remembrance of Underwood.
"Think of one of his jokes - many of which we could not dare repeat in a reverent setting like this," he said, recalling Underwood's fondness for mildly off-color humor.
Richardson also recalled how his grandfather would gruffly intone, "Mercy!" when something upset him.
Craig Underwood said that while his father will be remembered as one who persevered in politics despite many defeats between his two terms as governor, his greatest show of determination came in 2006, after he had suffered a paralyzing stroke.
Unwilling to move into an assisted living facility, Underwood underwent five hours of physical therapy a day, day after day, until he had regained the ability to walk, so he could move back to his condo on Charleston's East End.
"He showed us with his life that success can come when you try, try, try, and try again," his son said.
The service also featured many references to Underwood's wife, Hovah, who died in 2004.
"My faith tells me that he and Hovah are reunited," Wood said. "His walker is cast aside."
Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 348-1220.
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"To my father, there were no people more important or better than others,"
He was the best Governor State Employees ever had.
Which is the exact opposite of what we have now.