Today, Idaho is shy one of its true characters — an original with a biography to match.

• A Boise High School baseball pitcher who struck out a fellow Idaho native son destined for better days on the diamond: future Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.
• A political aspirant who lost three runs for office — then landed, for more than a decade, on the state’s Supreme Court.
• A student of his state’s heritage, who dedicated time and energy to preserving the history of his adopted home of Idaho City.
• A Harvard-educated attorney who eschewed airs — starting with neckties in the courtroom.
• A man who, above all, wanted to be known as a poet. And wrote his obituary to match.

Byron Johnson, who died Sunday at age 75, followed his muse and heeded his instincts/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Thoughts?