Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kenneth Ramage and his family:
Rochester teen wanted to make a difference
As Kenneth Ramage grew into his late teens, he craved knowledge about politics.
Even before he could vote, he sifted through political candidates' agendas, vowing to support those with his own ideals and values. He scoured newspapers and watched political TV shows with similar motives.
Ramage, 18, of Rochester, was riding his bike to a meeting with Rep. Andy Welti, DFL-Plainview, when he was hit by a vehicle on Hwy. 52 near Rochester. He died Thursday at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.
Ramage was a volunteer for the legislator's campaign.
He went door to door Wednesday, handing out campaign literature, then headed out on his bike to meet with Welti in Marion, southeast of Rochester.
Welti said Ramage was crossing Hwy. 52 when he was hit near a gas station.
"Kenneth was a wonderful young man whose goal in life was to leave a positive difference in the lives of the people he met," Welti said in a statement.
"I am deeply saddened by this and ask that you keep Kenneth's family in your thoughts and prayers."
Ramage's father, Timothy, said his youngest son had drive beyond his years. On the day Kenneth Ramage turned 18, he was eager to donate blood. Volunteering at a food shelf with his mom gave him a sense of satisfaction, but the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina inspired him to major in emergency management at North Dakota State University in Fargo, where he would have started classes this the fall.
[snip]
Ramage's father said knowing his son died helping someone is a bittersweet irony but also exemplifies who he was.
"He was a kid that would get involved and wanted to make a real difference," Timothy Ramage said.
OLLIE OX UPDATE: I've bumped this sad news to the top. Be safe, all campaign workers from every party who are in the field this weekend.
He was a great friend, Always made me laugh.
Posted by: Simon | October 08, 2006 at 11:58 PM