Uncommon Chiles Draws Praise for Common Touch

Gov. Lawton Chiles was remembered at his funeral Wednesday as a father of ideas, a common man and an uncommon statesman.

“One of Lawton Chiles’ most talked about qualities is his unique common touch, but Lawton himself was anything but common,” said Democratic Sen. Bob Graham, who knew Chiles for more than 30 years.

The 68-year-old Democratic governor and former U.S. senator died of heart disease Saturday, just 23 days before turning his office over to Republican Gov.-elect Jeb Bush.

Florida Senate President Toni Jennings used the symbolism of Chiles’ 1,033-mile campaign walk across the state in 1970 to parallel his legislative accomplishments.

“Lawton Chiles has left a clear trail to follow, but he has also left us some mighty big shoes to fill,” she told the mourners who packed Faith Presbyterian Church.

Vice President Al Gore, who buried his father a week ago, told Chiles’ four children that he understood how much they had lost. Gore, who served with Chiles in the U.S. Senate, called him a “quiet and unassuming spiritual leader” who was chosen by Democrats and Republicans to lead a weekly prayer breakfast in the Senate.

“While Lawton rarely spoke of it, he carried a well-worn Bible with him wherever he went,” Gore told more than 800 mourners.

Chiles’ two-time running mate, Buddy MacKay, gave a eulogy laced with anecdotes from their longtime friendship.

“I enjoyed the way Lawton mangled words,” said MacKay, who became governor upon Chiles’ death. “I came to look forward to it because once he got a word in his mind wrong, it never got straightened out.”

“He was a people’s man,” said Edna Mary, who lives in a retirement home near the church. “He could come into your living room, sit down and chat with you and you would not even have known he was governor.”

Four F-15 Eagle fighters flew over the cemetery, one breaking away in the “missing man formation.” The lead jet had Chiles’ name on it, a gift to the governor years ago from the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Squadron based in Jacksonville.

Chiles, an avid hunter, was buried with his favorite turkey call.