COLUMN: Jimmy Carter: A Life of Service, Integrity, and Humanity

Photo Credit: LBJ Library/Public Domain By James S. Bridgeforth, Ph.D. On Sunday, Dec. 29, the world bid farewell to a titan of democracy, a man whose life was a testament to the enduring power of service, integrity and humanity.& Former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100, leaves behind a legacy that transcends his years in the White House. He was a man who, through quiet yet transformative leadership, changed the course of American history—both domestically and abroad. He was, in every sense, a servant of the people. And for that, his legacy will forever shine as one of the brightest in American history. Born James Earl Carter Jr. in 1924 to a family of modest means, Carter’s story is one of perseverance and profound personal growth. Raised on a peanut farm in rural Georgia, he learned the values of hard work, discipline and self-reliance from an early age.& His education at the U.S. Naval Academy set him on a path to become a naval officer, where he distinguished himself as part of the nation’s nuclear submarine program, ultimately serving as the senior officer aboard the “Seawolf”, the U.S. Navy’s second nuclear-powered submarine.& But even in...