An Honored Alum

I graduated from Mt. Vernon High in 1956 and Ambassador Jeane Jordan Kirkpatrick was a very distinguished alum who went before me in 1944. She recently passed away and this is the story about her in the local paper.

Published: December 09, 2006 01:05 am
Former ambassador Kirkpatrick was 1944 MVTHS grad

By GREGORY R. NORFLEET
gregory.norfleet@register-news.com
MT. VERNON —

Local leaders spoke highly of Jeane Kirkpatrick, a former United Nations ambassador and graduate of Mt. Vernon Township High School, following her death Thursday.Kirkpatrick, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as the first woman U.N. Ambassador from 1981 to 1985, is a 1944 graduate of MVTHS and one of its “Distinguished Alumni.”The 80-year-old’s death was announced Friday.

U.S. Rep. John Shimkus called Kirkpatrick “a remarkable person” for breaking the gender barrier for the United States at the United Nations.“At the U.N. she led President Reagan’s fight against the former Soviet Union, against the spread of communism, and against threats to our freedoms,” Shimkus said. “Our nation will miss her direct point of view on international matters.”

Mt. Vernon Mayor David Keen agreed.“I am very sad to hear about the passing of former U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick,” Keen said. “She was obviously one of our most distinguished alumni of the high school and the City of Mt. Vernon.”

Keen was introduced to Kirkpatrick years ago by City Councilman John Howard when Kirkpatrick received the MVTHS Distinguished Alumni award.“You could definitely tell you were in the presence of somebody extremely important,” Keen said. “She was very kind and cordial, intelligent and articulate, and very concerned about her country.”

MVTHS Principal Dr. Jerry Pepple said Kirkpatrick set a strong example for students who followed her.“I think she is an inspiration to our current students and shows what this school is able to achieve and the quality of students who walk through these halls,” he said.

Kirkpatrick’s portrait hangs in the hallway outside the office of the MVTHS superintendent.“She was one of the outstanding students and she served our country very well,” Pepple said.During her time at MVTHS, Kirkpatrick, then known as Jeane Duane Jordan, served as editor-in-chief of The Vernois News, was a member of the Journalism Club and the Pan American Club. Jefferson County Board Chairman Ted Buck called Kirkpatrick one of Mt. Vernon’s “greatest assets.”

“She was talented, intelligent and a great lady,” he said. “Our country will have suffered a loss.”Howard said he was proud to have grown up with her and gone to school with her. Kirkpatrick has returned to Mt. Vernon many times since leaving government. “She was loyal to Mt. Vernon and Mt. Vernon High School,” he said.

“We watched her career with great interest. Her death is a great loss to the nation.”State Senator John O. Jones (R-Mt. Vernon) said he met Kirkpatrick one time, calling her “impressive.”“She was a very classy person,” he said. “She represented this community well. For her to be from here is a great plus for this entire area. ... She will be sorely missed.”

Kirkpatrick, once a Democrat, switched to the Republican party in 1985.“She wore my name button at one time,” Jones chuckled.State Rep. Kurt Granberg (D-Carlyle), who met Kirkpatrick once years ago while visiting Washington D.C., called her a “very strong force” at the United Nations.“She was very well respected — very tough and demanding, but very respected,” he said.

Jill Buck, owner of Buck Consulting in San Francisco and a former MVTHS grad, wrote about Kirkpatrick on the political news Web site FlashReport.org.“ She was a force to be reckoned with on issues of moral import,” Buck wrote, listing Kirkpatrick’s notable achievements in the 1980s and 1990s, plus heading the U.S. delegation to the Human Rights Commission in 2003.

“(She) had a tremendous influence on my own political life as a candidate for (California) State Assembly.”Buck said she remembers Kirkpatrick’s switch to the Republican party as one of her influences behind her registering to vote for the first time as a Republican.“My grandfather (who attended MVTHS with Kirkpatrick) was jubilant and said his friend Jeane would be proud.”

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Last week Karen and I attended the Rend Lake Foundation Dinner in Mt. Vernon and we were greatly impressed by the creativity, wisdom and leadership shown by the administration and teachers in my old town and my old school. They are certainly following in the footsteps of Mrs. Kirkpatrick and making a mark for the region and touching the world. Small town and country folk can accomplish a lot despite the caricatures of Hollywood.