The "venerable political figure" is none other than longtime Association member John Sears, one of the most highly respected residents of Beacon Hill.

When reminded about his confrontation with a mugger, John modestly acknowledged that it did happen and that he "was much younger and in better shape than he is now."

Except for several stints in the Navy, and work assignments for a New York Bank (Brown Brothers) and several years in England, John has spent most of his life in Boston, and particularly on Acorn Street in the shadow of the State House.

A graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law School, as well as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, John has enjoyed one of the most distinguished careers available to any public figure.

He served aboard a destroyer during the Korean War and was recalled in 1960 to command another destroyer and was discharged as a Lt. Commander in 1962.

He worked on two different occasions, both on Wall St. and in Boston with Brown Bros. for a total of four years. "Wall Street was a great experience, but my heart was always in Boston," said Sears.

In 1964, John was elected to the Mass. House of Representatives and served until 1968, at which time Governor Volpe appointed him Sheriff of Suffolk County.

Although a Republican, he ran a very close race, in a heavily Democratic county, but was defeated by Tom Eisenstadt in the next election.

Governor Volpe then appointed him Chairman of the Boston Finance Commission.

In 1970, Governor Frank Sargent appointed him Commissioner of the MDC and he served in that capacity until 1975. "We have a great park system in Boston and Greater Boston. The MDC has played a major role in maintaining this system," he pointed out.

In 1975, Sears' peers elected him chairman of the Republican State Committee. In 1976, he served as the state chairman of the Gerry Ford for President campaign committee.

Later he was elected as chairman of the South End Settlement House. In 1978, he was the Republican nominee for Secretary of State but was defeated by Mike Connolly. In 1979, he was elected at-large to the Boston City Council.

In 1982, he ran for governor. He defeated Andy Card (now President George Bush's top aide) and John Lakian in the Republican primary but was defeated by Mike Dukakis.

"I thought I was going to be running against Ed King, but he was defeated by Mike in the Democratic Primary," he said.

Sears had nothing but praise for his political opponents. "Tom Eisenstadt, Mike Dukakis and Mike Connolly all ran clean, issue-oriented campaigns... There were no personal attacks," he said. "And Andy, a fine young man, whom I defeated in the '82 Republican primary, hasn't done too badly, has he."

Former Secretary of State Mike Connolly, also a Bostonian (Roslindale), was asked about his 1978 opponent. "John Sears was a very knowledgeable candidate. He kept the race on a high plain... there was never any personal animosity. I'd describe John as a man of honor," said Connolly, who is also one of our members.

Although John is limping a bit these days as he winds his way around downtown Boston, at age 73, he cuts quite an imposing figure at a husky six feet, four inches. And we're betting that he'd give it his all once again if he saw someone in distress.