There is a belief among Jews that there are 36 “just men” hidden among us upon whose shoulders rests the survival of humankind. According to this belief, these 36 do not necessarily know who they are nor are they of any particular religion. It is because of their personal righteousness that God does not destroy mankind for its sins. I do not know whether this legend is true, but I believe, with all my heart, that if it is true, then the world lost such a man last week. His name was Glee Smith.

The newspapers last week ran long obituaries recounting all of Glee’s remarkable professional and personal achievements. Certainly, there have been few men in Kansas history who have done so much for their state and the nation as a whole as did Glee. He was a dedicated public servant, volunteer, and lawyer. He did more for Kansas government, for our legal system, for Kansas University and for the communities in which he lived than any other individual I have ever known.

But a simple listing of Glee’s professional achievements shows hardly a small portion of the man. I was fortunate enough to have lunch with Glee almost every Thursday for about 10 years. During those lunches, I was continually amazed by his deep and abiding belief in humanity and in the importance of maintaining a free and responsive government, as well as by his wisdom and his humor.

Glee would tell me about growing up in western Kansas, of travels with his father, about his adventures in the U.S. Army Air Corps and as a young lawyer in Kansas just starting out after World War II. His stories about his national service in multiple positions were amazing, including my favorite about how, much to his surprise, Hillary Clinton gave him her private telephone number when they served together on the board of the Legal Services Corporation and told him to call whenever he wanted to.

Glee often made me laugh or shake my head in amazement. He had an unbelievably full and rich life and enriched the lives of so many other people. Yet Glee was a humble man even though he had been so successful. He loved his wife, Jerry, and his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and he loved to speak of all of them.

I will always remember small things about Glee and the small kindnesses he was willing to do for others. On occasion, I would invite law students to join us for lunch. Glee was invariably welcoming to them. I remember, in particular, a time I brought a law student who had served in the army for 10 years in Afghanistan, Iraq and other war zones. Glee treated him not only as a brother in arms but as an equal, although more than half a century separated them.

Kansas has lost a great man. Humanity has lost one of the 36  “just men.” I have lost one of the best friends I have ever had. We must not only mourn our loss, but also celebrate the long and wonderful life that was Glee’s.

— Mike Hoeflich, a distinguished professor in the Kansas University School of Law, writes a regular column for the Journal-World.