Every one of us
has at least one hero in our lives someone we particularly respect
and hope in some way to emulate. A role model is someone whose
behavior, whose skills in a technical field or in interpersonal
relations, whose success makes us smile and makes us wish that we
could behave in a similar manner. For many people, our heroes may be
our parents, who most often have sacrificed tremendously for our
well being.
Our idols may
be in the sports or entertainment businesses, or they may be in a
technical field of particular interest to us, whether in science,
art or politics. Not having a hero puts us and especially the
younger versions of us, namely students and young people just
starting their careers at a distinct disadvantage. The
disadvantage is that we may not have someone whose examples can
inspire and whose vision we can share.
The HR Doctor
has had several heroes, mentors and role models. In turn, my hope is
that in some small way I have passed the torch and have been a
source of help, support, mentoring and, perhaps, served as a
positive role model for others.
In this article
however, I want to share a personal role model who retired from
service to the people of California and the United States earlier
this year after a lifetime of public service excellence. The great
Richard Bud Carpenter has served America since 1939 Yes! 1939.
First, he served in the San Francisco City Attorneys office and
later that year as assistant legal counsel for the League of
California Cities. He became executive director of the league as
well as general counsel and director of legislative affairs.
His career
included an appointment to the Fair Political Practices Commission,
service to the Eisenhower Commission Advisory on Federalism and as a
member of Californias Constitutional Revision Commission. For the
past 10 years, Bud has been a member of the California State
Personnel Board and was president of that board.
Taking a moment
of personal privilege, I would like to share with readers of the HR
Doctor articles some extracts of the letter I sent to Bud on the
occasion of his retirement.
Long ago in
the early 1970s, as a little kid administrator just starting his
career in the City of Santa Barbara, I met you and saw qualities
which made me want to remain in Public Administration work at the
local government level, and focus on what I might be able to
contribute to the improvement of government human resources. You
have remained a person whom I very much respect and admire. You and
Jane are a human team of two whom I also admire and, along with
the beautiful Charlotte, my wife of 32 years, have tried to
emulate.
I recall with
special fondness the dinners I got to have with you and Jane
periodically during League of California Cities Conferences. They
were pleasant in and of themselves, but they represented what I even
then knew to be great opportunities to spend time with you and
absorb philosophies and approaches to public service.
When any of us
retire, perhaps the most important footprint we can leave behind is
to know that we have inspired others or helped develop the next
generation in our society. I want you to know that you have had that
effect on me and I have tried very hard to maintain that tradition
during the thirty years I have now spent in the
business.
This article is
not only a tribute to Bud, but its a tribute to what he and his
career stood for excellence in public service, commitment to the
careers of others and caring for a country and the value of its
local governments. A toast to Bud and Jane Carpenter in the next
phase of their lives. I raise my cup of Earl Gray tea and say to
everyone reading this article that this Bud has really been for all
of us, certainly, for me.
