When Mitt Romney’s wealth drew critical comment, he replied he was not about to apologize for success.
Of course not, would be the automatic reaction of most. What red-blooded American boy hasn’t dreamed of being win-the-lottery rich? Why else worship capitalism? Remember Horatio Alger and think big.
Still, there are some who are a bit uncomfortable with having a net worth of $250 million be the definition of success. There must be more to it than that.
The late Spencer Gard of Iola thought so. Gard was district judge of Allen County for decades and was one of three candidates proposed for a seat on the Kansas Supreme Court when Justice Schuyler Jackson resigned in 1962. Gard was backed by an enthusiastic group of Iolans who mounted an extended statewide campaign on his behalf.
But Gov. John Anderson appointed District Judge John Fontron of Hutchinson instead. Judge Gard praised the appointment. He said Judge Fontron was “qualified in every way” for the position.
Then he added, “At my age, 65, the prospect of changing residence to Topeka and giving up the very pleasant life and work in the local community was not very attractive. I am content to conclude my judicial career among my friends at home,” he said.
Judge Gard’s definition of success is broader and more satisfying. He achieved a great deal. He was a national authority on the law of evidence. He and his beloved wife, Marjorie, lived modestly and contributed broadly. Marjorie was an accomplished organist. Spencer wrote poetry and even published a small volume for himself and friends.
Also consider an earlier Iola example: J. V. Roberts. He came to Iola as a young musician who earned a precarious living playing a cornet. He settled here, was director of the Iola Municipal Band for decades and established a music store on the south side of the square that thrived. He made enough money to build a fine two-story frame house on South Washington that remains attractive today.
One Christmas he decided to play Santa and gave a spinet piano to the Allen County Hospital around Thanksgiving. He explained he was going to wait until Dec. 25, but changed his mind. He wanted the instrument there in time for patients to enjoy Christmas music throughout the season.
J. V. Roberts was a success.
Finally, doing research for the next volume of the Annals of Iola and Allen County, I ran across the announcement of my dad’s retirement from the Register in 1963:
“Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Lynn bowed out as active members of the Register’s staff yesterday. Mrs. Lynn, daughter of the late Charles F. Scott, has been on the Register staff since World War II when she was drafted as telegraph editor. She continued on the job for several years after the war’s end. Recently she has worked only on Saturday mornings and while spelling vacationing employees.
“Lynn, who will be 65 April 1, joined the Register in 1925 and has been on the staff ever since except for three years in the 1930s. He has been advertising manager, circulation manager, reporter, photographer, city editor and assistant manager. During World War II he drove a motor delivery route each evening. Lynn was an officer in the National Guard here for a number of years when it was a cavalry unit and was an expert steeple chase competitor.
“He has served on the city commission, school board, county welfare advisory committee and is now on the library board.
“They plan to spend this winter studying Spanish in a Mexican college near Mexico City.”
Mother and Dad retired on their Social Security checks and a modest inheritance from his parents. They lived in Mexico for a couple of years, then outside Tucson, which was their headquarters for more than 20 years. They spent a month or more every summer in Estes Park in their trailer so they could visit with their children and grandchildren when they vacationed there.
