In Honor of Lonnie Michael
Mar 20, 09:25 AM CST
The Nebraska Democratic Party, as well as our state, suffered a great loss this week. Lonnie Michael, who served as State Director for U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey, died on March 16th after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 58.
“Despite all his success and all that he was able to achieve for himself, Lonnie never forgot the community,” said Senator Ben Nelson. “He was always working trying to improve the lives of others who grew up on the same streets he did. The tragedy of Lonnie’s passing is compounded by the fact that it comes less than 3 years after we lost Sonny Foster.”
As we keep Lonnie’s family in our thoughts, I encourage everyone to read this story from the Omaha World-Herald:
As Kerrey’s state coordinator from early 1989 until the fall of 1995, Michael traveled Nebraska with the senator. For much of that time, Michael was the only African-American state coordinator – the top in-state official in charge of most constituent services – for any U.S. senator in the country.
Kerrey recalled that during many stops in small western Nebraska towns, people would touch Michael – the first black man many had seen.
“Lonnie loved going to the sales barns and talking to the cowboys,” Kerrey said. “He experienced less racial issues there than in many other parts of the state.”
“I was delighted to have him,” Kerrey said. “He brought competency, to begin with. He had a great touch with people.”
Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. at the Fort Street Church of Christ, 5922 Fort Street. Viewing is today from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Myers Funeral Home, 2216 N. 22nd Street.
– by Eric Van Horn | Send this to a friend
