OFF THE WIRE
THE PASSING OF SPUTNIK, “LEGISLATIVE WARRIOR”
It is with heavy heart that the National Coalition Of Motorcyclists announces the passing of William “Sputnik” Strain, legendary bikers rights activist from the Lone Star State. According to the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association; “Our great Leader, Sputnik, passed away suddenly at approximately 5:00 AM June 24, 2010 from a massive heart attack.”
Sputnik, inspired in the early nineties after attending the NCOM Convention in Atlantic City, was instrumental in organizing the grass roots effort to repeal the mandatory helmet law in Texas. Not stopping there, the “Legislative Warrior” spread the word throughout the motorcycling community with his “Five Steps to Freedom” to “Take back our country” and, in turn, inspired countless motorcyclists across the country to become politically active.
In Texas, he went on to spearhead election campaigns to get bikers elected to public office and formed the most effective caucus in the state, eventually enacting numerous biker-friendly laws and killing not only every anti-biker bill proposed but the political careers of those who dared to introduce them. Sputnik wrote the book on Texas politics, literally, as school textbooks have chronicled his achievements.
In addition to founding the TMRA2, Sputnik was a longtime member of the NCOM Legislative Task Force, and served as NCOM-LTF Chairman the past three years despite his failing health.
“Sputnik believed in everything he said and losing that determination will be a great loss to the motorcycling community. The greatest tribute to him is to push forth with our fight for freedom and not let his death be in vain,” said James “Doc” Reichenbach III, Chairman of the NCOM Board of Directors and State President of ABATE of Florida, Inc.
Echoing the sentiments expressed by the entire motorcycle community, NCOM Founder Richard M. Lester said; “Sputnik is so universally loved and respected, from MRO leadership to COC patch holders and from bikers on the street to state and federal lawmakers, that his passing leaves a void which can only be filled by all of us moving forward together with his spirit and resolve.”
Funeral/Memorial Services are pending. The upcoming 26th Annual NCOM Convention in Albuquerque, N.M. next May 5-8, 2011, will be dedicated to his memory.
