Ideal recipients of community's leadership award
On the subject of Col. (ret.) Ralph Puckett, we make no pretense in this forum about being especially objective. The distinguished Infantry veteran and author is a longtime friend and constructive critic of, and prolific contributor to, this newspaper.
That's just our narrow insider perspective. His record of valor, sacrifice and, most important in this context, leadership in the Army is so well known as to be almost legendary.
His wife Jeannie, like her husband, takes seriously the responsibility of leadership. As parents, said the successful artist and business owner, "we become leaders of our children how we go about our work is setting an example for those with whom we work. No matter what walk of life we are in, we are models for those with whom we interact."
Exemplary models indeed, as acknowledged by the Pastoral Institute, which will honor Jeannie and Ralph Puckett with this year's Sue Marie and Bill Turner Servant Leadership Award.
"I cannot think of two people who embody servant leadership more than Col. Ralph and Jeannie Puckett," said Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, commander of the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning.
Both are models of courage as well as leadership -- Ralph in multiple tours of combat, Jeannie in (among other ways) a battle with cancer she was given a 30 percent chance to survive. That was 25 years ago.
A telling anecdote: When Ralph Puckett wrote his first columns for the Ledger-Enquirer, we contacted him about how he wanted to be identified. We wanted to list some of his many service awards (a complete catalogue probably would have been longer than the column). He asked that we not do that, preferring to note only that he was honorary colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment, a unit he had led. That's Ralph.
There aren't many people like this couple around; certainly there aren't enough of them. But servant leadership, as they exemplify it, is clearly intended to cultivate the best in the best. Ralph Puckett works with and talks to groups of young soldiers; Jeannie Puckett often meets with young people at schools.
"We all grow up; we get bigger and we get older, but we will wrestle with the same old insecurities," she said. "That's why I feel we are all mentors to each other, and why I feel we should help those who cross our paths in any positive way we can."
Judicial no-brainer
A former worker at a Connecticut branch of the Swiss bank UBS has been vindicated by the Connecticut Supreme Court in a claim that he was wrongfully terminated. His firing offense: Warning people that UBS investment funds were overvalued by millions.
According to the court, the man was exercising his free speech rights about "matters of significant public interest."
No kidding.
This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Ideal recipients of community's leadership award."