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Rio Grande Foundation
P.O. Box 2015 Tijeras, NM 87059
505-286-2030

Rio Grande Foundation Mourns Loss of Champion of Liberty

Joseph P. Overton Killed in Plane Crash June 30, 2003

"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root...."
Henry David Thoreau

We are in shock and sadness at the passing of one of our nation's greatest champions of liberty. Joe Overton, Senior Vice President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, lost his life in the crash of a light plane on the evening of June 30. Joe clearly understood the link between liberty and prosperity. And he dedicated his life to advancing liberty.

We at the Rio Grande Foundation admired Joe for his cordial, focused, and business-like commitment to freedom. He was always willing to give us benefit of his wisdom accompanied by words of encouragement. Visitors to this site who are not familiar with Joe need only explore www.mackinac.org to appreciate the breadth and depth of his talent and commitment. In the words of Mackinac's president Larry Reed: "Virtually everything Joe did, and virtually every one of the brilliant ideas he came up with to advance the cause of liberty, was aimed at precisely what Thoreau would have advised, namely, striking at the root."

Joe's inspiration remains with us at Rio Grande Foundation. We will redouble our effort in advancing liberty. And we will do so by striking at the root.