By Washington, DC
July 11, 2003

A dear, dear, friend of this organization has passed. His name is Maynard. Maynard was all you had to say. When you said Maynard though, all knew who it was. It was Maynard Holbrook Jackson, the Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia.

Our friendship, career and lives paralleled beginning in 1968. 1968 was a bad year for many Americans. In April we lost Dr. King, in June we lost Bobby, and we had great pain in our hearts for our nation as we witnessed pent up bitterness against the Vietnam War turn into rage from both sides at the Democratic National Convention. It wasn-t so much about who was going to win the Presidential election that year. It was about our pain and what we had lost.

And so it was to be that year, a new voice was born from that pain. In his heart young Maynard Jackson heard a calling — a calling to run for the Senate against the icon of Georgia politics, Herman E. Talmadge. It was a political act that ranks with the profiles of courage in American political history as he traveled throughout the state stirring those who heard him. It was the only election he lost and when he lost, you would have thought from his concession speech that it was a victory speech. That's the way Maynard was. In defeat, he could see the victories of tomorrow as he boomed forth with optimism and joy — "A historic victory has been achieved tonight, Georgia told the world that any American - black or white, rich or liberal or conservative - can run for office in this state." The votes showed — and some of us noticed — that he had carried Atlanta. And as Atlanta came back from the ashes after Sherman, we knew Maynard would rise too after his race against Herman. And so we closed out 1968, glad to see it end from what we had lost, but, at the age of 28, I was thankful it had given us Maynard.

And so up from defeat he arose with a mighty triumph over his foes. Elected by Atlanta as its vice mayor in 1969 and in 1973 he was elected as Atlanta's youngest mayor ever and the first black mayor of a major southern city.

His accomplishments and breakthroughs from his political and business career have all been written about and more stories will be told and will be written of him.

But those of us who were lucky to be in his midst, to be around him, to hear him, to see him — those images, that special feeling will always be with us. Why? Because he was different. There was only one Maynard Jackson. Only one.

First, there was his voice. The first time I ever heard it, I was rushing through a crowded hotel ballroom in Atlanta. He was speaking with passion. I had to stop — still. You not only heard his voice, you felt it. It had an aura about it. It had a command about it. And it was at the same time melodic and rhythmic - I said to myself - "Damn!" I looked to the stage. I looked to the speakers hanging above and then my eyes found him. I just stopped — stood there — trying to understand it. But you can't. It's like trying to figure out Ella Fitzgerald's voice. You don't. You just accept the fact that God gives humans special voices. And so when God gives out voices he blesses all of us by giving very special ones to people like Maynard for people like us to hear. And then we believe more in God. That's the only explanation. You are just thankful and you go on about your business with a complete understanding that it is God given.

And there were his eyes — green and beautiful and full of joy, laughter, happiness — and above all, trust. The size of him would fluctuate but his eyes were always the same. As serious as the conversation was, as sad as the situation was, there was joy in his eyes and that joy transformed to you from his mind, soul and heart that there is hope and a brighter tomorrow for all of us in this turbulent world.

His belief and loyalty to this organization was unquestioned. He never called it "USCM" or "The Conference of Mayors." It was always the "The United States Conference of Mayors." One day he called me when I was all tied up in a meeting and I stepped out to take his call. He said he was going to be on a morning television network show with a three minute shot. He wanted to give us a "plug" about something. I told him about a legislative proposal we were pushing and watched him the next morning, not knowing the subject of the interview. The interview didn't have a damn thing to do with "The United States Conference of Mayors" but he managed to utter those words, "The United States Conference of Mayors;" 6 times in the time he had. I just laughed alone out loud watching and hearing him plugging us over and over in an interview about nothing that related to us. Later he called and said, "How did I do, brother?" And I, of course, thanked him, and we talked about how he did it. Then he ended the conversation by saying — "Listen, Tom, its not about the steak you are selling. It's about the sizzle. Steaks are ordinary and most common. It's about the sizzle. People will buy the sizzle. It has to be new and different. Always sell the sizzle." I thanked him and went back to my mundane meeting thinking about the sizzle — new and different — and I've thought about it and acted on it a lot since that conversation.

The other time I-ll never forget was at our 1993 Executive Committee and Advisory Board Dinner during our Annual Meeting in New York City. We all left Gracie Mansion after a reception and traversed on trolley cars to an intimate dinner hosted by Mayor David Dinkins. Assembled at dinner, there was the usual wine with dinner speeches when people get the urge to stand and speak, saying thank you and goodbyes to mayors leaving office. It was late in the wine and we all knew it was Maynard's last meeting since he was in his third term and decided not to run again. I got up out of my chair and walked to his table recognizing that no one had rose to speak for him because we all wanted to hear him. I just announced — "And we all will now have a few words from Maynard." He quickly arose, put his napkin down and said "Tonight I take my text from the great one, Mr. William Shakespeare ..." And for minutes he quoted from his heart and memory the passages from "Henry V". When he finished, there was thunderous applause and tears. We knew we were in the presence of the great one quoting another great one. After he spoke, the dinner was over. And we didn't need a Broadway show or late night Manhattan jazz that night. We had all been fulfilled.

The stories go on and on. The space is not allowed here and the heart is too heavy to write more. But we must never forget his belief in the cardinal virtues and the bipartisan strength of The United States Conference of Mayors and for his appreciation for what we have done to elevate all men and women of all color to a higher moral and political ground in the service to all people, our cities of the USA and the world.

The last time we talked was right before our 71st Annual Meeting in Denver. Our host, Mayor Wellington E. Webb early on decided he wanted to do a special Sunday morning event at the Denver City Park, at the site of the newly unveiled Martin Luther King, Jr. statue. As things go, I reached out to Maynard to come and speak because of his ties with Reverend King and because I knew too that Maynard coming from a long line of ministers in his family and with his understanding the Conference of Mayors' role in the civil rights movement, he would offer appropriate remarks for the occasion. Of course, there was his business schedule because he never let up but he said he would try to work it out. So I thought I had him. But later he called and said he had a business opportunity scheduled and he regretted he couldn-t be with us. Then he went on to say — "My friend, what this country needs is a new national policy for our cities — like the one we had with Jimmy Carter. You remember?" Then I said "yes, I remember. Who in the hell you think you are talking to? I helped you write it." And then he said, "But what are you doing about it now? You and the mayors need to go to work on one now for Bush and the Democrats running because they don't have one. That's what you need to do and you need to do it now." And so to get off the phone, I said "Yes, Mr. Mayor we will do it." He was always pushing us. Then I found out he had called others and told them the same thing. He never let up — pushing for our mayors and our cities. And our new President, Mayor James Garner has announced that we will come forth with a new metropolitan economic plan for -04 and I will work on another one and I will work harder because of the inspiration, courage, and strength that Maynard gave us.

We had a beautiful event in Denver. While I was sitting there that sunny Colorado Sunday morning — and since — I have wondered what Maynard might have said — with his understanding of history and his literate mind and his passion and courage for the future. He just might have quoted from the most famous and most read piece of literature, the King James version of the Bible. It is one of his most favorite biblical passages and its Psalms 27. This what he might have said if he had come to Denver. This one is for you, my dear, dear friend:

¹"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ²When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. ³Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me in this will I be confident. ⁴One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in this temple. ⁵For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. ⁶And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing, praises unto the LORD. ⁷Hear, O LORD, When I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. ⁸When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

We love you, Maynard. You have sustained us and given us strength to carry on.