decades later, when the more announced his 1996 presidential run, he was in his hometown of maryvale. his speech began with a story about his mother. he had read where lovingly described his upbringing as lower middle class. and she had taken umbrage to that. after all, lamar had a library card and music lessons. ything youds, "an needed that was important." i would certainly add loving parents to the list. he'd later reference his mother's work in early childhood education by saying he's probably the only secretary of education in history, and history, who spent five years -- in history, who spent five years in can regard. that passion would remain with lamar -- in kindergarten. that passion would remain with lamar throughout his career. it benefited tennessee hugely in the 1980's. and our whole nation during the time in president bush 41's cabinet. it's not the only way lamar has honored his roots. you couldn't walk the entire state of tennessee and be elected governor and serve more years than anyone else in the history of the volunteer state without becoming entirely intertwined w