My travel blog, that was set to begin last Tuesday, has been delayed for a very sad reason. On Thursday, Jan. 12th I lost my longtime, dear friend Bill Janklow.

I thought it important to write just a few words about this man that played such an important part of my life.

Bill, Bill's grand-daughter, Lindsay & I at a Bears/Vikings game.
When one gets to my age you find that death becomes less a stranger and I would think that by now I would be better prepared for these sad events. However, for some reason, Bill Janklow's passing has been particular hard. I just wasn’t ready for him to go.

I will leave it to the academicians and historians to chronicle his time in office, his successes and failures, policies and administrations. However, I do want to say a few personal words about this man that I called friend and ally for the past 38 years.

First, and I mean this most sincerely, in my 40 years of politics and government; I never met a person who was as bold and visionary a leader as Bill Janklow. He was afraid of nothing when it came to moving forward on something he believed was worth fighting for or accomplishing for South Dakota. His mother always said it best: "Bill isn't always right but he is never in doubt."

There is an adage that goes: "There is a big difference between motion and action." Bill Janklow was about action. Getting things done, taking on the tough fights and leaving meaningless 'motion' to others.

He would bring that zeal, devotion and loyalty to everything he touched in his life; whether it was his family, his friends, his Marine Corps or his beloved Chicago Bears. However, an unknown to most people, he would also bring that fighting spirit and commitment to many people, who were simply down on their luck, and needed a fighter in their corner.

Like everyone else, my life will go on without my dear friend Bill Janklow, although, it will never be as interesting or exciting or fun and I will miss him very much.

Bill; you and I used to argue about the merits of your Marine Corps compared to the US Army in which I served. Like most arguments we had over the years you also win this one as your Corps says it best: Semper Fidelis: "Always Faithful."

Since my road trip had been delayed I was thinking of flying down to Florida, however, I had planned on stopping and visiting some old friends as I drove south, Bill’s death has made that part of this trip all the more poignant. You shouldn’t wait to see old friends. Also, some good old-fashioned windshield time is probably just what I need to do some remembering of my friend.

So, in the days ahead I will get on with my ‘Road Trip’ and hope you will come along.