There are people that seem to flow in and out of our lives. At times they are front and center and, well, you lose track of them for a few years although they always stay in your consciousness. Tom Watkins is one of those people.

I was thinking about Tom the other day when I heard from a mutual friend that Watkins was once again being recruited to a warmer climate, away from Michigan. I thought this would be a terrible loss. Then I heard he was a finalist to become the new chancellor of Oakland Community College and I hoped the Board of Trustees would have the wisdom to snag a guy who has made a life out of contributing and making a difference to our city, region and state.

Some of you will recognize Tom Watkins for a number of reasons.

First, his commentaries have been a regular feature of the Michigan Chronicle for some time now. He has the ability to speak to the heart and the mind. His commentaries are often thinking around the corner with vision and passion, such as when he predicted the state deficit would exceed $1 billion after the last governor’s election, no matter who was elected, talked about the problem of home foreclosures long before anyone else was, speaks to the needs of the homeless, mentally ill and other forgotten souls in our midst and is a tireless advocate for quality education for all.

Second, he served with great distinction as the state superintendent of schools from 2001 to 2005. During his tenure he was a regular fixture in Detroit and other urban as well as suburban and rural areas of the state, seeking ideas from teachers, parents and students on how to improve the quality of education offered to all students.

He is always about teaching, learning and students, not power, control and politics.

Tom not only talks the talk, he also walks the walk. Without fanfare, he donated his first year’s salary increase to a young man from the public schools of Inkster, enabling the student to attend Grambling State University.

During his tenure as state superintendent, the achievement gap between African American students and their White counterparts began to close because of his focus and determination.

While Jim Blanchard was governor, he ran the Michigan Department of Mental Health. While many would like to forget those who are inflicted with mental illness or mental retardation, Tom Watkins insisted that we treat these individuals with dignity and respect.

It was reported that Tom could be found over the weekend making unannounced visits to group homes or state institutions seeing for himself if the quality was up to par. He did not care how many certificates hung on the wall, his accreditation standard was. “Is this place good enough for his mother, his child?” If it was not, was not good enough for anyone.

Tom is a Renaissance man.

He has a lifelong interest in China and has been working hard to build academic, and economic bridges between Michigan and China in ways that can benefit our students, families, communities and businesses. Given our transformational, global knowledge economy this is just the type of visionary leadership Michigan needs if we are going to be economically relevant in the 21st century.

He has been named an honorary professor at a Chinese university and was the first non-Chinese given the distinction of being an honorary member of the Chinese Association of Greater Detroit’s Board of Directors.

He has an ability to work with people from both sides of the political aisle to find workable solutions that advance the agenda and create value for taxpayers.

Many can claim pride in being successful in one career, and a select few, in two. However, Tom Watkins’ career has traversed juvenile justice, politics, mental health, school reform, higher education, non-profits, business, government entrepreneurism and international affairs.

He is well liked and, more importantly, respected by business leaders, media, educators and more.

Does he have enemies? Of course. Anyone who has been a leader and change agent as long as Tom certainly has ruffled a few feathers.

In the 21st century, talent will rule. Tom Watkins is an exceptionally talented man who has chosen to make a difference and call Michigan his home. Others from across the country and around the world have attempted to recruit him, but he has made a commitment to stay.

No, I am not a member of the Oakland County Community College Board of Trustees. But if I was, I would do everything I could to make Tom the leader to help take the college to the next level.

He can’t do it alone, and he has shown that he has the ability to pull people together to develop a shared vision and a common agenda and make good things happen, and that is certainly something that our region and state is in short supply of today.

Talent, commitment, perseverance, hard work, vision, leadership and a global view of the world are what are needed if Michigan is to become and remain economically relevant in the 21st century.

Tom has a proven track record of making things happen that benefit our state and its people.

I would welcome a bit of regional cooperation. If Oakland Community Colleges has the vision to make Tom Watkins its next leader, our children, the region and the state would also reap benefits.

Sam Logan is publisher of the Michigan Chronicle.