“We had our arguments but then we were always able to put our arms around each other and move on,” Tillie would say.

Of all the legislators I worked with both in the legislature and at the Department of Local Affairs, Tillman “Tillie” Bishop, who died Sunday at 86 in Grand Junction, was the most effective as well as the most persistent. The insectary in Grand Junction, the uranium mill tailings and, of course, Colorado Mesa University – those are just a few of his many projects.

Tillie was always cheerful and polite but, most of all, persistent. Once he came to Local Affairs seeking a grant to remove mill tailings. I agreed to the grant with the understanding that this would be his only request. Just a few days later, however, he called about funds for the college.

“Tillie!” I said. “We had a deal. No more requests.”

“Well, this is important,” he answered. Of course, we made the grant, knowing it would be put to good use.

His focus was not just western Colorado. In 1980, Tillie and Rep. Jerry Kopel from Denver co-chaired The Committee to Free the Leningrad Three on behalf of three Soviet “prisoners of conscience.” All were eventually released in part because of the committee’s relentless pressure. He was always believed in justice and human rights.

In all, he served 28 years in the legislature and was a Mesa County commissioner, regent of the University of Colorado and trustee of Colorado Mesa University.

For the last several years, my wife, Sherry (Tillie was the dean of students when she was a student there) and I would call Tillie every few months to see how he and Pat were doing. He never talked about his health. The conversations were always about his community. This was his life. Serving his community. We were honored to have had him as a friend.

Morgan Smith served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1973 to 1978 and as executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs from 1983 to 1986. He can be reached at Morgan-smith@comcast.net.