It’s amazing how time flies.

It was the fall of 2001 and it was the first time I met then U.S. Rep. Bob Riley. He was stopping by The Clanton Advertiser office during one of his tours of the 3rd Congressional District.

Riley was months away from announcing his intentions to run for governor, but you could tell he was already considering it. It was the first time I got to talk with him, and was even then impressed by his easy speaking style.

It’s amazing how time flies.

Did I vote for him that first election against then Gov. Don Siegelman? Well, a person’s vote is secret, but I will give you a hint and tell you the newspaper editorial board I helped lead endorsed Siegelman. Woops. We got that one wrong.

Many called Riley’s first campaign for governor a “speak nothing” campaign. There were pictures of him on a horse and a “plan” that offered the normal candidate speak. But, compared to Siegelman’s railing for a lottery and little else, Alabama voters went with the candidate who said little to the one who didn’t have a coherent plan B.

Eight years have since passed and Riley is set to leave office Monday. He will leave with an approval rating so high that it rattles the political cages of every statewide elected official. [Do you feel that Senator Jeff Sessions? What about you Senator Richard Shelby?]

In his eight years Riley has gone from obscure three-term congressman from Clay County to GOP powerhouse. In eight years he has gone from leading the Republican Party in moments of weakness to helping them step into control of both houses of the Alabama Legislature. He has helped lead the state through natural and man-made disasters and worked to diversify the state’s economic foundation.

At times — Riley was a divisive politician, who could ruffle the features of any Democrat at anytime. And, probably liked it. At other times — he could unify both parties in times of recovery and remorse.

Riley is the consummate politician who never met a person he couldn’t make feel comfortable, or help sway a crowd to cast their vote for him.

Riley steps aside quietly Monday as Dr. Robert Bentley steps in. To say Bentley has some large shoes to fill wouldn’t quite be accurate. He has some huge boots to fill.