Indeed, he venerated the young people of today, almost as much as they loved him, holding to the strong optimism, in a pessimistic world, that the youth of today would be our society's salvation. He loved his work, his wife, his family, his friends, his fellowman, his state and his country. Tom, well, let's call him by all of it,Thomas Hart Benton is one of Missouri's great claims to fame. He ranks along with people like Mark Twain and Harry Truman and General Pershing and General Bradley. Tom Benton, who is now over 80, is right in there with those folks.
Nobody paints better.
Tom Benton's work will be honoring his state. But he will live on. Probaby for generations. He was that great. Not that you would have noticed it if you passed him on the street.