SACRAMENTO – Many charter schools in New York state have gotten money from the Walton Family Foundation at one point or another. This morning, John Walton was remembered as a kind and down-to-Earth guy (even though he was one of the richest men on the planet due to the fortunes of Wal Mart) who “led from behind.”

Walton died last summer in a plane crash, and his influence was so profound in the world of charter schools and school choice that many here openly admitted there would be no “movement” without his help and vision.

Some comments from former Milwaukee Superintendent Howard Fuller, who presented an award to Walton’s widow, Christy Walton:

“Think of the thousands of children whose lives have been enhanced because of John… who now have a future because of John.”

“I loved John because he was a warrior for the charter school movement and for the larger parental choice movement.”

“He believed that poor children in this country were getting screwed… and because they were getting screwed he wanted to do something about it, and he was in a position to do something about it.”