Ken Hechler To Celebrate Milestone 100th Birthday Saturday [View all]

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: WCHS



Former West Virginia secretary of state and congressman Ken Hechler is reaching a milestone this weekend.

Hechler will be 100 years old on Saturday. He and his wife, Carol, will celebrate with friends and family at a private party in Romney on Sunday.

Hechler was an Army combat historian during World War II and served in the Truman White House, writing speeches among other duties.

He served in the U.S. House between 1959 and 1976 and was secretary of state from 1985 to 2001.

Read more: http://www.wchstv.com/news/features/eyewitness-news/stories/Ken-Hechler-To-Celebrate-Milestone-100th-Birthday-41576.shtml

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Oldest living person to have served in Congress, aide to presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, the only sitting member of Congress to have marched with MLK at Selma, interrogated Hermann Goerring for the allies following WW II, author of the Mine Safety Act of 1969, author of the best selling "Bridge at Remagen.

He's still active and leading the fight against mountaintop removal, touring local schools and writing prolifically. Just a few years ago, he led the local Occupy march in his former hometown Huntington.

He's the godfather of West Virginia progressivism and is always there to stand up for what's right when our rightwing state "Democrats" fail.

Our state has been truly blessed to have him.



Here's a great PBS documentary on his life, featuring everyone from Tom Harkin to Bob Dole:

Here he is talking MLK with Phil Donahue:

And here he is with his good friend, the late Larry Gibson, a pioneer in WV's environmental movement and the fight against MTR: