Awoke to the sad news that The Honorable Howard Greene, former US Senate Sergeant at Arms died yesterday. He was one of the most powerful people on Capitol Hill and in April 1995, I was summoned to his prestigious office on third floor of the United States Capitol Building. My supervisor said he wanted to see me in his office and to be honest my palms got wet, my mouth dry and for life of me wondered what in world did I do. Was my political career over? When I arrived his secretary of his lavish office ushered me to his private office and with his trademark cufflinks and cigar I walked and he asked me to take a seat. Just before sitting down I caught a glimpse of one of the most gorgeous views of all of Washington, DC as his office overlooked the National Mall and I could see the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial from his office. I sat down and now starring face to face with the man who was the Chief Protocol Officer among many other duties of the United States Senate. Senators are elected by their constituents but the Senate Sergeant at Arms is picked by the Senators themselves in the majority party. When the President would come to the Capitol he would be there to greet him as he exited the limosuine and would escort him the entire time while in the building. Still uncertain why in the world he would ask for me he sat on his desk, looked me in the eye and said: Frank, as you may know I oversee 5,000 Senate employees and Mike is one of three bi-partisan figures who work on the floor of the United States Senate. Those positions are lifelong appointments and he has elected to go back to Maine and finish his law degree. You know the other two men are in their late sixties and early seventies, respectively and I could pick anyone of the thousands that work for me but I figured since it was a life long selection why not ask the two men remaining who they wanted since they would have to not only work with them but LIVE with that decision. At this juncture, my eyes were bigger than the saucer that served the famous Senate Bean Soup and with my heart beating faster than a Ferrari he looked at me and said, Frank, both of those men said you were the man for the job. Effective tomorrow, I am appointing you to be floor staff of the United States Senate and you will interact and serve daily all 100 United States Senators as long as we are in session. I was in awe and here I was thinking I was fired and one of most powerful men in Washington just HIRED me to a dream job. The back story of that was my dear friend had just commited suicide and it was on the only time that I took off a semester since starting school to process his death. I was a senior at Gardner Webb Univ and I should have been completing my studies but at one of my darkest days of my life I returned to Capitol Hill without a college degree, returned to my summer internship and mere months later was appointed to a job that only three out of five thousand could get and having ten law degrees couldnt gurantee that rare political appointment. God blessed big time and every rose has its thorns. Those were some of the best days of my life and I worked 10-12 hours per day and had honor to have a front row seat to hear some of the greatest orators of our time plus meet and connect with them. Daily, I would escort President Pro Tempore Strom Thurmond (R-SC) on the floor to the rostrum and he would hold my elbow as Dr Lloyd Ogilvie (Chaplain of Senate) would hold his other arm. What a JOY to connect with him and 99 other Senators from Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) and Sen Trent Lott (R-MS) to Sen John Glenn (D-OH) and Sen Ted Kennedy (D-MA) befriending me and even once asking to borrow my VISA card. When he signed the pic below he wrote To my good friend, Frank Shelton - All the best - Edward M Kennedy. Politics aside it was interesting that a kin to Camelot called me friend. Ive always said, SHINE A LIGHT were God places you. Over the years I have felt like a pawn of Gods chess board and He has stragetically placed in me in some amazing places and I know it is ALL Him and He gets all the credit. The Lord had me step out by faith and despite the dream job I felt God leading me to return to college and finish my degree knowing leaving would probably close that chapter for good. When I told The Honorable Howard Greene I was returning to school I thought I would dissapoint him but he was happy to hear I would complete my degree. He told me as I left by faith to return to school that he would do his best to see if he could hold the job back but no guarantees. I returned to Gardner- Webb Univ in North Carolina and after graduating I returned to Capitol Hill and reunited with him and I will never forget that he was sad to convey that the Democrats at just retaken the United States Senate and he was losing his powerful position because they could now pick someone in his place since the other party now was in majority. He was sad he couldnt re-appoint me on floor but truth be told I was more sad that his job was over. It said so much about him that he was sad for me but without a doubt he was loved by many and yes, the greats are gracious. Today, when I heard the news my heart dropped and then it smiled that because of his faith in Christ He was now face to Face with Almighty God. He was friends with U.S. Presidents and powerful national politicians but by Gods grace was also blessing to my Dad and me. God used him to open some AMAZING doors for me that I could never repay or buy. It was ALL Grace! Hon. Howard Greene also served on the US Capitol Police Board and served as Chairman at one time. Yes, we live by faith and die by faith but faith will lead us Home. I thank God for The Honorable Greene and the man who was acquainted weekly with Presidents is now forever with the Prince of Peace. See you sir soon on the other side. Well done thy good and faithful servant and thank you for your service to God, Country and so many. We are all better for your kindness and may the comfort of Christ envelope your family extra special today.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 19:33:14 +0000