Saturday’s are usually my day to take a break from writing, but I had to post my thoughts on the passing of former Buffalo Bills QB and U.S. Congressman Jack Kemp.

Very few still remember Kemp’s time with the Bills, but he became one the greatest player’s in team history, leading Buffalo to the 1964 and 1965 AFL Championships, along with winning the league’s most valuable player award in 1965. He also co-founded the AFL Players Association in 1964 and was elected president five times.

Kemp’s true calling though came in service to the entire nation, running for and gaining gaining election to the House of Representatives in his western New York district nine times. Kemp brought a passionate defense of conservative politics and played a major role in the resurgence of the right during the Reagan years. He was unsuccessful in his bid for the vice-presidency in 1996, but continued to work on political campaigns right up until his death.

For all of those reasons and many more, Kemp will truly be missed. He was a standout player in a bygone era and continued to fight off the field for his ideals and values through his political service. Regardless of any political differences, Kemp is deserving of our respect for his never ending service  to the game of football and to the country as a whole.

RIP Mr. Kemp.