Unsettled by the past few months of uncertainty and unrest, our family returned to my wife’s hometown for a reset over the holiday weekend.
As we walked past the mom and pops on Market Street in Corning, NY, it was impossible not to wonder what our sons’ grandfather would be doing if he were still with us. The former Chairman and CEO of Corning Glass Works (now Corning, Inc.), he had retired from business at age 60 and stood for office, serving nine terms in the US House of Representatives. A humble, gentle presence who stood equal to many of the most celebrated men of his generation, Amo Houghton had avoided the limelight and dedicated his life to this beloved community, the company, New York’s Southern Tier, and ultimately the nation.
He had been a pillar of strength and an anchor through several challenging periods of crisis. The Flood of 1972 (which had leveled Corning as if it were a “war zone”). Watergate. 1987 Stock Market Crash. The Savings and Loan Crisis. The Monica Lewinsky scandal. The Dot-Com Bubble Collapse. The Invasion of Iraq.
I had a ringside seat from which I could observe Amo in action as he solved thorny problems. I was impressed by his willingness to go it alone when his emerging convictions ran counter to the prevailing winds. How did he find the courage to do the right thing? Well, first he would reach out to the wisest, most informed people he knew for their perspective. Then he would listen intently and with a great deal of curiosity to anyone who might want to weigh in, because he understood that new insight could emerge from anywhere.
Above all, he believed in the elevation of the human spirit, and knew that great powers of motivation can be unleashed if people are led well.
His willingness to champion a range of differing perspectives gave him an ability to bridge the divide between business and government, and between political parties, in the tug-of-war called governing. That made it possible for him to form alliances with partners who held viewpoints on many issues before Congress that he did not share. He repeatedly reached across the aisle and joined forces, often with his good friend and colleague, John Lewis.
So, what would Amo have said to me last weekend if he had been with us? Well, for one thing he would have drilled me about my projects and their potential outcomes/impact, as he always had since I first showed up in his daughter’s life at age 25. Ever the corporate CEO intent upon helping one of his charges reach his full potential, he was relentless in his quest to shape me. And for sure he would have been all over me about why The American Road, which he and John supported in their final days, had not yet been funded and completely developed.
I can hear him saying, “For Chris’ sakes, Mark, you and your friends got the Library of Congress behind this two years ago. Our nation needs a music-driven civics education program to inspire young people now more than ever. What the heck are you waiting for?”
Both Amo and John loved music and dancing. Both men cared deeply about civic life. Both believed in the power of youth to lead the nation forward. In this moment of great need, when divisions among us seem insurmountable, both John and Amo would be campaigning heavily to develop younger leaders who know how to get into good trouble, argue their positions with civility, bring fresh energy to our problems, and close the gaps between us.
Amo would be mad as hell at me for letting the project stall for a couple of years as I published a book, started a spiritual center, and attended to other personal priorities. He would be making a list of the people that we should call to help get things moving. And he would stay on me until I got the project up and running, with weekly updates, no more excuses, no distractions.
I can feel his presence pushing us onward.
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If you, too, are hearing his call to attend to the important work of lifting up the next generation of civic leaders for this country, please be in touch. We would love to get you involved with The American Road.
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: Author
