Editorial: Banitt, Webster walked the talk

Final flight: The region bids farewell to two respected businessmen today.

Byron Banitt of Red Wing had a reputation for honesty, compassion and caring. The founder of the successful and nationally recognized Banitt Motors, he died Wednesday at age 81.

Longtime Republican Eagle subscribers may remember the words to live by that accompanied his ads — and live by them, he did. Words like:

• “The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.”

• “It’s amazing how much can be accomplished if you don’t care who gets the credit.”

• “A true measure of a career is to be able to be content, even proud, that you succeeded through your endeavor without leaving a trail of casualties in your wake.”

Don Webster of Zumbrota also died Wednesday. He was 79.

He, too, had a reputation as a dedicated, savvy businessman who shared his of himself and his worldly goods. He built the Zumbrota Livestock Market into a regional force and, through his expertise, helped local farmers grow with him.

The Goodhue County community will miss these fine men.

Tags: opinion, editorial, don, webster, byron, banitt