Osborne ends honorable, productive term in Congress

Seeing Tom Osborne on the sidelines at the Oklahoma-Nebraska Big 12 championship game brought back old memories from the times when he wasn't just a spectator.

It also brought back the jarring reality that Osborne, perhaps the most beloved and respected individual Nebraska has ever generated, was unsuccessful in his bid to become governor of the Cornhusker State.

As coach, Osborne was famous for his steady attitude, and unwillingness to allow his team to list off even keel, too much of an emotional high from success on one side, too low in defeat on the other.

But the successes far outnumbered the defeats, and today's NU football fans would welcome back Osborne's win-loss records.

Perhaps it was that steady nature and humble attitude that was Osborne's undoing. Successful politicians are more likely to believe that modesty doesn't pay at the polls. And, we never knew the Hastings native to resort to the negative campaigning we all grew to detest in the general election.

Osborne rang true to form in a letter to 3rd District constituents this week, mailed as his time in Congress is coming to an end. There was no horn-blowing, but the congressman's list of accomplishments fills the second page of his letter.

Osborne has worked hard to promote and sustain agriculture, from adding research funding in the farm bill, to helping establish the CREP program to deal with the Republican and Platte river crises, to helping win drought aid and promoting grain sales to Iraqi and Columbian poultry producers.

He's also created the Rural Economic Development Handbook and Resource guide to boost economic development and a similar handbook for entrepreneurs, as well as hosting conferences on important topics such as agri-tourism, hunting and grant opportunities, economic development, entrepreneurship, e-commmerce and the Medicare prescription drug program.

But Osborne's years in working with young people -- coaching as well as earning his degree in educational psychology has shown through and served him well in Washington.

During his three terms in the House, he amended the No Child Left Behind Act to promote mentoring, got a law passed to protect student athletes and regulate sports agents, helped rural schools receive federal funds, helped regulate the sale and use of steroid-like drugs, helped make entrepreneurship part of vocational education funding, helped pass laws to coordinate federal programs serving youth, and passed laws to reduce underage drinking and suicide among youth, as well as going on the road personally to speak to students across the state about the dangers of using alcohol and methamphetamines.

"Service to others is a fundamental part of our country's constitutional and social fabric," Osborne writes in closing his letter to constituents. "The Founding Fathers wisely established a system of citizen legislators to respond to the needs of the people. I am honored to have been able to serve you in this capacity in the House of Representatives and hope that our paths continue to cross in the future."

Thank you for the kind words, Dr. Osborne, but we, residents of the 3rd District, are the ones who have been honored and proud to have you devote your time and energy to us and our children.