by David R Coates Vermont recently lost one of our most important, influential and relevant leaders for the last 50 years. I was one among many who were fortunate enough to have Fred as a mentor and dear friend.
Fred Hackett served our state in so many ways that his loss will leave a profound void for years to come. A statesman who worked tirelessly, both publicly and behind the scenes, for the betterment of Vermont. Never seeking the limelight, just making sure important public policy was sound and meaningful.
His efforts cast a wide net and had extensive impacts in Vermont. He served as a State Representative in leadership positions, a candidate for Governor, an adviser to many governors, both Republican and Democratic, and a sponsor and supporter of important legislation in the environmental arena. He also served on a myriad of boards, both civic and business.
Luther Fred Hackett. VBM file photo.
Fred was a board member and Chair of the University of Vermont Board of Trustees for many years. He was a sponsor and promoter of the Vermont Captive Insurance Industry. The list of his contributions goes on and on.
Fred was always positive about Vermont's future and had a vision that was as remarkable for its foresight and relevance as applied to today as it was when he first advanced it so many years ago.
I was fortunate enough to have spent a lot of time with him and, in particular, on our annual excursion to the Grand Cascapedia River to fish for Atlantic Salmon.
For 17 years, we made this trip and when we went by car, we had many hours to talk and reminisce. With Fred, it was invariably about Vermont. In 2008, I made notes of his vision (guiding principles) for our state as we drove to our fishing destination.
- Provide good jobs;
- Protect our environment and our natural beauty;
- Educate our young people;
- Care for the truly needy;
- Live within our means;
- Encourage and reward hard work, creativity and personal savings; and
- Support and defend the free enterprise system.
Not surprisingly, in 2009 Fred was the recipient of The Vermont Business Roundtable's Vision Award. The award was to recognize a person who demonstrated throughout his or her professional career, both in word and deed, a commitment to the ideals in its vision "to make Vermont the best place in America to do business, be educated, and live life."
There have only been three of these awarded.
David Coates presents The Vermont Business Roundtable's Vision Award to Fred Hackett in 2009. Photo courtesy of David Coates.
Fred was always up to any challenge that would improve our state. He didn't wear politics on his shirt sleeve … he wore Vermont. As one well known politician told me "Fred was a lousy politician because he was too honest”. Fred was brutally honest and didn't pull punches when it came to public policy.
In 2003, this publication ran a profile of Fred written by Joyce Marcel. I quote a paragraph that pretty well sums up who Fred Hackett was and what he meant to our state. "If he were on a basketball team, and he played for Vermont, he'd be the captain and go-to-guy when the game was on the line. Not a flashy player, but the player in whom all his teammates had confidence, who had confidence in himself and his abilities to make the big shot. To lead the team to victory".
As many know, Fred was known for his penchant of planting acorns---in other words, setting forth ideas and policy that would take some time to be nurtured and developed. He did this better than anyone I have ever known. His greatest legacy will be the harvest these acorns will continue to produce for the people of Vermont long after he has gone.