Man, oh man, how I will miss this guy. I was heartbroken at the news of Keith's death that cheated him out of more happy, productive years, and cheated all of us out of his generosity, great humor and savvy.

 

How best to commemorate Keith? Keep his work alive and the spirit in which he performed it: passionately, with commitment, courtesy, integrity, hard work, common sense and of course the humor that he brought to the absurdities we all face in this life. Keith never took himself too seriously, but he took his work so seriously that it gave the rest of us the energy to keep on fighting with him. 

 

I had just spoken with Keith about 2 weeks ago about legislative strategies in the next session. Now who will do this work for us? -- for women and our health, for the disenfranchised, for gays and lesbians seeking equal rights and dignity, for those with AIDS or who are HIV+, those of us concerned about our air and water and farmlands, those of us who know that increasingly, our individual freedoms are threatened? Keith Smith was the gutsy, stand-up guy who carried the banner on all of those issues and for all of us.

 

Now we have to do this work for ourselves. And of course, wasn't that always Keith's message?  He leaves this world wearing a gorgeous black hat and cloaked in love. I hope he knew, too, that he will live on in our town and state as proof that one person -- one smart, funny, wise man -- can and has made a difference. Pam

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Dear Joann,,

I am so sad for Keith's family, for you, for us, for Oklahoma, and for the Nation. Keith B. Smith, a truly Great American, a Great Friend, and a Great Citizen of the World has left us. I have been crying and wringing my hands because we have not only lost our great, great friend, we have lost a voice that can not be replaced--not just a voice for women or minorities or choice or the environment, but a voice of civility, a voice for real freedoms.

Keith had a rare talent for respecting but questioning our institutions. He knew that the way to change the status quo was to work from within while questioning from without. He worked all the angles from the top down and from the roots up. He earned the respect of everyone, no matter their political bent. To follow him at his work was to watch an artist--an artist in the art of people.

Last week, I called Keith.  Like you say, knowing Keith, you just called him sometimes. When you talked to Keith you were always the only person. He never talked to you while looking over your shoulder for the next person. Well, I called because I had not gotten to see him or speak to him in a while. I called him because I had not gotten to celebrate the elections with him. He answered immediately. I said "Keith, what are you doing?" "I'm watching Olbermann," he said. "Of course, you are--another Keith with a grand knowledge of the world," I said.

I called Keith just to tell him that I was thankful for him and for all he had done for this year's great victories--but not just this year--for the past, and now so very brief, 15 years that I had gotten to know him and had seen him at his craft. I thanked him for all that he did to make Oklahoma a better place--to make the World a better place. As we talked, I thought, Keith sounds so tired. It was unlike him. But, on the other hand, I thought--even Keith gets tired every once in a while.

On Friday the 17th, I called Keith again, this time, to talk to him about a lobbying gig. I have been involved in a lot of water disputes, and I had decided it was finally time to call in the big gun--Keith Smith, lobbyist, to be my watchdog. I left a message on his answering machine.

On Saturday, I went to one of my favorite Keith Smith events, the Chili Hacks Cookoff. I went to see Keith. I knew he would be there. It was his event. He brought the fun. (He also brought a specialglittering martini glass for me on occasion--our little secret.) I asked several people where Keith was. No one had seen him. Again, I thought it was unlike him, but maybe he was just tired out from a great political season and that he was gearing up for the work ahead. I decided I would call him after Thanksgiving.

Then, I got the word.

I am so sad that I did not get to give Keith a last kiss, a last hug, or lift a last toast with him, or to say the words, "I love you," but I am thankful that something told me to call Keith and thank him for being a hero for Oklahoma.

Thanks for all the fun, Keith. 

Laurie Williams

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I just got home from England, and was shocked to hear of Keith's passing.  Shocked, and heartbroken.

Isn't it amazing how there are so many things we would say if we could?  I'd tell Keith how proud I was every time I saw in the news that a bad choice or anti-gay bill had died - and I'd know that Keith had, behind the scenes, worked with everything he had to protect women, or to protect Oklahoma's GLBT population, or to protect anyone who didn't have a voice.

I'm so concerned for our state - who will fill that void?  Who will step up and walk in Keith's shoes?

Keith taught me a tremendous amount about politics, and about life - and I'm proud of that.  I can't count the days I spent in Keith's living room as we watched OSU play, or sat around his piano and sang.

There's a huge void in Oklahoma, and in all of our lives.

I'll  miss Keith, desperately.  Those who know me know that he and I have had some rough times - but I know Keith never doubted how much I cared for him - and I never doubted that of him.

Philippe Beaudette
Tulsa, OK

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