When Louis Gatewood Galbraith passed away in 2012\, a flood of tributes merely \;scratched the surface of this & ldquo\;colorful&rdquo\; and controversial figure. Throughout his \;lif e and political career\, regional and national media outlets focused on th e policy \;ideas and public acts that made Gatewood a cultural fixture : public demonstrations\, an affinity for recreational drug use\, unfilter ed language\, and recurring \;political campaigns. Best known as an ad vocate for the legalization of cannabis\, \;second amendment rights\, and smaller government\, it&rsquo\;s now quite easy to imagine \;this once quixotic platform finding traction in contemporary Kentucky politics.
\nIn Gatewood: Kentucky&rsquo\;s Uncommon Man\, Matthew Strandmark weaves \;together personal stories\, public records\, and oral history interviews \;to provide a comprehensive overview of the life and \;career of an eccentric and fascinating figure. Gatewood&rsquo\;s \;l ife was vital in developing the values that came to define his later polit ical career\, \;namely\, a passion for rural communities and a low tol erance for bullies. As a graduate of the University of Kentucky's Law Scho ol\, he \;found his initial calling as an evangelist for cannabis \;legalization. An appetite for the spotlight and standing up for the litt le guy \;launched Gatewood into a 30-year career of perennial campaign ing\, groundbreaking legal cases\, public activism throughout the Commonwe alth&mdash\;and friendships \;with celebrities including Woody Harrels on\, Jack Herer\, and Willie Nelson.
\nStrandmark's biography insigh tful conversations with Gatewood&rsquo\;s \;family\, colleagues\, and community leaders\, as well as commentary from public \;figures such a s Paul E. Patton\, Ernie Fletcher\, Andy Barr\, and Ben Chandler. The \;culmination of these narratives provides a richer and nuanced understand ing of \;Gatewood: a generous\, complicated\, and flawed public figure who devoted his life \;to helping others&mdash\;a legacy that will co ntinue to resonate with Kentuckians for \;generations to come.
\nMatthew Strandmark is an educator\, researcher\, and archivist\, and serv es as the \;Education Archivist and Academic Liaison to the Appalachia n Studies department \;at the University of Kentucky Special Collectio ns Research Center. Previously he \;served as the Outreach Archivist a t Emory University&rsquo\;s Rose Library\, in Atlanta\, \;Georgia. He received Master of Arts (History) and Master of Library Science \;degr ees from Indiana University\, Bloomington where his research focused on&nb sp\;modern American history.
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