Martin Luther King Jr. would have considered Joe Hubbard a kindred spirit. King and Hubbard both spent their careers championing the cause of social justice. King focused on the spirit while Hubbard helped provide for people's physical needs in East St. Louis and throughout the metro-east. Hubbard is retiring after leading Catholic Urban Programs for 40 years,

King considered service to others to be a measure of greatness: "You don't have to have a college degree to serve.... You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

Hubbard has the sort of heart and soul that King envisioned. Even in retirement, we have no doubt that he will continue his life of service to the poor of our area.

Thank you to Hubbard. May the rest of us learn from his example.