FROM THE DESK OF THE STATE LIBRARIAN
The State of New Hampshire lost a true friend on September 24th when former Governor Hugh Gregg died after a brief illness. The Governor was remembered by many in articles that appeared in newspapers all over the state and in the broadcast media through numerous interviews. I first met Governor Gregg when I came to the State Library as the first Director of the New Hampshire Political Library in 1998. Governor Gregg was the driving force behind the New Hampshire Political Library. He galvanized people and got them to understand why the First in the Nation Primary was important to New Hampshire. He had a vision that the New Hampshire Political Library could be instrumental in holding on to the primary because it would be the one place where history and traditions of primaries could be housed and disseminated to historians, scholars, politicians, and citizens. The Library has acquired important articles and documents that chronicle the First in the Nation Primary because of Hugh Gregg's efforts. He approached people and asked them to donate to the library and many, many people have been very generous with the political treasures they have collected over the years. He was the chief fundraiser for the library, putting together fundraising plans that garnered support from the public and organizations in New Hampshire.
Hugh Gregg was an unapologetic supporter of the New Hampshire Primary and all things New Hampshire. While he was Governor, 1953-1955, he established the Whooper award and gave it to people who were supporters of New Hampshire. For more than 50 years anyone wanting to know what was going on in New Hampshire politics and the first in the nation primary would have to consult with Hugh if they wanted the full story. Among his supporters were journalists, who wrote about New Hampshire primary and its importance to the democratic process, these included Jack Germond, David Broder and Brian Lamb, an author of four books on the primary, including a publication due out soon. Hugh Gregg was a true scholar of the primary. Those of us who worked with him and learned from him, miss him, but we all know the state is a better place because of his influence.
He was a respected statesman who will be remembered for many wonderful things he did for New Hampshire's citizens.
-Michael York, State Librarian |
