A year ago, Missouri lost its Governor in a plane crash south of St. Louis. And, at Mel Carnahan’s funeral, his daughter, Robin, spoke a memorable phrase in discussing how her father would build a fire on winter mornings and admonish the children not to let the fire go out. That phrase “Don’t let the fire go out,” became a rallying cry, propelling Carnahan to a posthumous election win over incumbent John Ashcroft in the race for the U.S. Senate. His widow, Jean, was appointed to the seat. Today, Robin Carnahan says the phrase extends beyond politics. She adds she is very proud of her mother and the work she is doing in the U.S. Senate.
