Death of former county commissioner Kennedy reminds us of what’s really important in life

Like everyone, he weathered his share of disappointments in life.
But we rarely knew him to ever get discouraged.
Yet, one day in March 2007, after an especially grueling public hearing, Asel Kennedy admitted as much to us.
Some called for his resignation from the Monongalia County Commission while others accused him of a conflict of interest during that meeting.
More than 60 people turned out in response to a rumor the commission planned to consolidate the county’s public service districts.
Truth was, the commission approved $3,500 to finance a study of the PSDs’ finances to determine their efficiencies. Kennedy told us then that despite his efforts on behalf of the county’s best interests, it would one day all be forgotten.
Well, he was wrong. We for one will never forget him and his contributions to Monongalia County.
Kennedy died quietly Friday. You would never describe him as a colorful character though he was something of an icon here in the minds of many, except his own.
He was always just himself, a humble, hard-working man whose greatest ambition was to serve the people, the land and his family. Though any number of local legends, like West, Knotts and Gee, are far better known far and wide, Asel Kennedy was all ours.
His profile almost reads like someone who not only was well schooled in many walks of life but lived more than one lifetime. Farmer, teacher, public servant, banker, golfer, media personality, volunteer, and to many, a role model in the countryside and in town.
It’s almost fitting that one of America’s legendary folk heroes might have described Kennedy’s philosophy best.
Davy Crockett once said, “I have always supported measures and principles and not men.”
Kennedy’s version of conservatism was that, in so many words. He was far from inflexible in his allegiance to politics or politicians.
However, his resolve on certain principles never wavered, though he would listen to all arguments.
Needless to say, we had our disagreements with Kennedy’s measures and principles sometimes.
But he always came across as a man of the people and not special interests or his personal agenda.
Our newspaper will miss Asel Kennedy’s kindly visits to our offices and his contributions to our pages.
As writers and readers, we often only see the end product of hard work and long journeys.
But we rarely look back at the steps that lead people to their better angels — to this point in time for Kennedy.
Unlike many, he refused to rest on his share of laurels in life or to remind anyone of them too often.
Indeed, it was how he faced challenges that gave rise to what would make him unforgettable.