State Representative Joe John, who died today, looked something like a friendly but fierce bulldog.

He fiercely loved the law and our system of justice.

He loved public service. He was one of few people to serve with distinction in all three branches of state government: judicial, executive and legislative.

He loved baseball and the New York Yankees.

He loved all things Carolina.

And he deeply loved the large, warm family that mourns him, as do we all who knew, loved and respected him.

Joe was a judge for 25 years, in district and superior court and the Court of Appeals. You almost thought he was named “Judge Joe John.”

He was reluctant back in 2016 when Democrats recruited him to run for state House in a tough northern Wake County district.

But he campaigned with bulldog determination.

In every campaign, five of them, Joe would spend hours at early voting sites, greeting and chatting with people in his low-key way.

Every time, he won. Eventually, Republicans gave up trying to gerrymander him out of his seat.

In a partisan, polarized House, his was one of few voices that both sides stopped to listen to.

Few people knew that, most of his time in the House, Joe was in his 80s. He seemed ageless.

Our family has a special feeling for Joe. Our son James managed one of his campaigns and worked as his legislative assistant. Joe was a mentor and an inspiration.

In 2022, I heard Joe speak at a fundraiser in a home in Oakwood.

He grew emotional talking about the partisanship that he believed is eroding trust in our state and federal courts.

He also confessed that he hated calling people and raising money.

So, I went up afterward and told him I’d make fundraising calls for him.

It was the easiest money I ever raised.

Everybody I called had a story about how much they respected Joe John.

They just wanted to know how to give and how much.

Joe gave his all for us and for North Carolina.

We were lucky to have him.