40 Years Later
In good hands with Governor Hearnes
Colby Williams
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Southern Faces
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His connection with the people of Missouri is what set him apart from the other candidates, who sometimes seemed lofty in status compared with the common voters.
"At a press conference in Newton County, Bush said, 'I'm glad to be in MacDonald County,'" Warren remembered with a laugh. "I came back and told Betty, 'Bet I carry Newton County! I may not know much, but I know what county I'm in.' I never forgot that."
Warren never lost that intimacy with his people while in the Governor's office, and thus, in 1968 was reelected and became the first Missouri Governor to ever serve two consecutive terms.
While Governor, Warren's major legislative focuses were education, mental health care and the arts.
Hearnes established four-year status for Missouri Western in St. Joseph. He channeled resources into the public educational system on every level, earning him a handful of buildings bearing his name including Hearnes Hall at Southern.
Ahead of his time, Warren's push for mental healthcare was unheard of in America.
Warren revamped the entire mental healthcare system in Missouri, placing a regional clinic within an hour's drive from every person in the state and building three intensive care centers. Missouri was the first state in the country to adopt this structure.
When Warren pushed for state support for the Missouri Council of the Arts, the other branches of government met him with doubts.
"They thought you'd have naked ballet dancers running across the stage," Betty said.
But lawmakers consented, making Missouri the second state to give financial support to an art commission.
Decades removed from his time in office, Warren now resides back in his hometown of Charleston, Mo, with his wife. Some years ago, she organized their memories - pictures, posters, calendars, awards - and placed them in a small storefront, which the city dubbed the Warren E. Hearnes Museum. The material for a recent biography, Warren E. Hearnes: A Memoir by Rob Crouse, came from museum resources. It serves as a sanctuary of fond reflection for a man that brought so much needed change to a state. Sitting beneath faded posters of his younger self with dignitaries from around the world, Warren concluded his recollections about his journey saying:
"We will never forget it."
"At a press conference in Newton County, Bush said, 'I'm glad to be in MacDonald County,'" Warren remembered with a laugh. "I came back and told Betty, 'Bet I carry Newton County! I may not know much, but I know what county I'm in.' I never forgot that."
Warren never lost that intimacy with his people while in the Governor's office, and thus, in 1968 was reelected and became the first Missouri Governor to ever serve two consecutive terms.
While Governor, Warren's major legislative focuses were education, mental health care and the arts.
Hearnes established four-year status for Missouri Western in St. Joseph. He channeled resources into the public educational system on every level, earning him a handful of buildings bearing his name including Hearnes Hall at Southern.
Ahead of his time, Warren's push for mental healthcare was unheard of in America.
Warren revamped the entire mental healthcare system in Missouri, placing a regional clinic within an hour's drive from every person in the state and building three intensive care centers. Missouri was the first state in the country to adopt this structure.
When Warren pushed for state support for the Missouri Council of the Arts, the other branches of government met him with doubts.
"They thought you'd have naked ballet dancers running across the stage," Betty said.
But lawmakers consented, making Missouri the second state to give financial support to an art commission.
Decades removed from his time in office, Warren now resides back in his hometown of Charleston, Mo, with his wife. Some years ago, she organized their memories - pictures, posters, calendars, awards - and placed them in a small storefront, which the city dubbed the Warren E. Hearnes Museum. The material for a recent biography, Warren E. Hearnes: A Memoir by Rob Crouse, came from museum resources. It serves as a sanctuary of fond reflection for a man that brought so much needed change to a state. Sitting beneath faded posters of his younger self with dignitaries from around the world, Warren concluded his recollections about his journey saying:
"We will never forget it."
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