PHIL BATT: Championed human rights and respect for all

On Saturday, March 4, Idaho lost one of its greatest statesmen with the passing of former Idaho Governor Phil Batt. I first got to know Phil during a political campaign in 1972 developing a long friendship that I will always cherish.

As one who has worked in human rights my entire adult life, I can state without any reservation that Gov. Batt will be remembered as one of Idaho’s greatest champions for human rights and respect for all people.

Let me share a few examples:

• As a state senator, he authored the legislation for Idaho’s Human Rights Commission.

• He championed legislation for Hispanic farm workers in Idaho.

• He was the first keynoter at the KCTFHR Human Rights Banquet in 1998 giving the most powerful human rights address we have had in 23 banquets. At that banquet, we announced the establishment of the NIC minority scholarships in honor of Gov. Phil Batt and State Sen. Mary Lou Reed for their human rights work.

• He joined Gov. Cecil Andrus at North Idaho College in 1989 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the human rights commission with more than 600 school children enjoying a 20-foot-long birthday cake.

During his term as governor, I had the great honor of being appointed by Phil as one of the seven Idaho representatives on the national Education Commission of the States as well as a member of the Idaho Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force. Phil never let partisan politics get in the way of working with members of both major political parties.

I send my sympathy to his wonderful family.

Rest in peace my dear friend.

TONY STEWART

Coeur d’Alene