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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; People often joked that President George H.W. Bush won the presidency on the strength of a million hand-written notes, but there may have been some truth to that.</p><p>As Americans mourn the loss of an iconic figure, some Luzerne County residents recalled their experiences with Bush &#8212; who once knocked on doors in Kingston &#8212; and the handwritten notes he left for them.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre City Council Chairman Tony Brooks once wrote the former Texas oilman and he heard back from him.</p><p>&#8220;I wrote him a letter in 1985 encouraging him to run for president in 1988,&#8221; Brooks noted. &#8220;I got a hand-written response from him six days later. I can&#8217;t imagine that today.&#8221;</p><p>He went on: &#8220;While I was a student at the University of Pennsylvania, I served as the Pennsylvania State Chairman of Students for George Bush in 1988. I was tasked along with 15 other students to help out in the primary election in Concord, New Hampshire.&#8221;</p><p>Brooks also served as a page at the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans.</p><p>&#8220;I met Bush about half a dozen times,&#8221; Brooks mentioned. &#8220;Looking back, I feel very honored to have met him. As I&#8217;m sure many Americans are as well.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;He was the consummate gentleman,&#8221; Brooks noted about Bush&#8217;s time as president. &#8220;He was nice and caring but at the same time he was forthright and strong in defending America.&#8221;</p><p>He continued: &#8220;Looking back at it, President Bush was the right person at the right time with the right temperament for the job. America and the world owe him a debt of gratitude for navigating the country through the end of the Cold War.&#8221;</p><p><strong>&#8216;Lovely day together&#8217;</strong></p><p>David E. Schwager, a partner in Wilkes-Barre law firm Chariton, Schwager &amp; Malak, also received a hand-written letter from the World War II veteran.</p><p>&#8220;When Bush was running in the 1980 primary, I was a senior in high school,&#8221; recalled Schwager. &#8220;I was captivated by him. Everyone wanted Reagan but I really liked Bush. I actually became the Luzerne County Chair for Bush&#8217;s presidential push.&#8221;</p><p>And that led to a visit by candidate George and wife Barbara Bush while he was campaigning in Pennsylvania.</p><p>&#8220;I took George door to door in Kingston,&#8221; Schwager said. &#8220;He also had a town hall later that day.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;It was a lovely day together,&#8221; he added. &#8220;He sent me a hand-written note thanking me for all my hard work. It&#8217;s hanging in a frame in my office.&#8221;</p><p>Schwager said Bush&#8217;s death is a tremendous loss for the country.</p><p>&#8220;I think we will all truly miss his inspiration,&#8221; Schwager said.</p><p><strong>Politicians express condolences</strong></p><p>&#8226; <strong>Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf</strong>: &#8220;President George H.W. Bush was a kind and gentle man who dedicated his life to service, and he will be greatly missed. A decorated war hero and career public servant with extensive credentials, President Bush protected and brought honor to America.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; <strong>U.S. Senator Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley</strong>: &#8220;President George H. W. Bush was a great American patriot, dedicated public servant, tireless humanitarian and a caring family man.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; <strong>Pennsylvania Treasurer and Berwick native Joe</strong> <strong>Torsella</strong>:&#8220;America has lost one of her brightest points of light. It was the privilege of a lifetime to work with him in my time at the National Constitution Center, and a joy and blessing to have him as a friend and mentor in the years that followed. His decency, kindness, and grace were &#8212; and are &#8212; an inspiration&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; <strong>Republican Party of Pennsylvania chairman Val DiGiorgio</strong>: &#8220;President Bush was a tremendous Republican President; a decorated veteran, and a man committed to faith, family and charity. His voice and his legacy of self-sacrificing leadership will be missed by our party and our country.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; <strong>State Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township</strong>: &#8220;George H.W. Bush compiled a distinguished record of service and leadership matched by few over the last century. We will never forget his courage during war and his character during peace. He was a man of many talents and abilities who for the greater part of his lifetime put the needs and interests of our nation first. Although never entirely at ease in the role of politician, he filled the role of statesman admirably.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">President-elect George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara wave to supporters in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 8, 1988, after Bush won the presidential election. Bush has died at age 94. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_BushJump2.cmyk_.jpg</photo0><caption0>President-elect George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara wave to supporters in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 8, 1988, after Bush won the presidential election. Bush has died at age 94. </caption0><photoCredit0>AP Photo | Scott Applewhite </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dan Stokes</p><p>dstokes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dan Stokes at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @ByDanStokes</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Locals recall their experiences with late President Bush