His obituary opened like this: “Richard Thornburgh, an effective and respected two-term governor of Pennsylvania who later served a tumultuous three-year stint as U.S. attorney general under Presidents Reagan and Bush, has died at age 88.”

In fact, Dick Thornburgh was so respected and admired that even outside of political life, he was called on to lead investigations into ethics violations and widespread corruption—a kind of Elliot Ness, Jimmy Stewart, and Walter Cronkite in one man—the ultimate straight shooter.

Despite all of his accomplishments, one phrase might be the most fitting epitaph to his storied life—one that welcomed every visitor to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and greeted motorists whenever a car from PA was passing by: “You’ve got a friend in Pennsylvania!”

But underneath the friendly state slogan and the winning smile, there was steel. Convictions about God and our responsibility to care for the most vulnerable.

To help tell that story is his son, professor and good government advocate, David Thornburgh.