In 2010 I saw the Broadway production of "Wicked" and just loved it.

In fact I told my daughters in no uncertain terms that I wanted them to learn the song "For Good" and perform it for me in full costume. It's a beautiful song about the way we touch and influence each other's lives, hopefully for good.

Well, that was a few months back, but when they came into town for Christmas this year, one night they told me we were going out for ice cream. They took me into downtown Safford to Candee's Ice Cream shop - a tiny little historic building with a small performance area. There they surprised me with one of the most touching Christmas gifts I've received in a long time!

In addition to the live performance, with the help of my wife they had secretly met with my web and media production guy and had a professional audio recording done, which they presented to me on CD. Call it a guilty pleasure, call it showing off, call me a proud and overbearing parent, but I'm posting the song here just to prove to you how great they are!

(Just you wait and see how I talk about my grandkids!)

Click to download the mp3: For Good

                     - Richard Mack

Author/speaker and former sheriff Richard Mack has served in a wide variety of roles over the course of his nearly twenty year career in law enforcement, which began in Provo, Utah.

Mack began his career with the Provo Police Department as a parking enforcement cadet while attending BYU. A couple of years later he became a full-time officer and was soon promoted to Corporal, Sergeant, and Detective. His most traumatic experience there was a one-year assignment as an undercover narcotics agent. After nearly 11 years at Provo PD, Mack decided to return to his childhood turf in Arizona and run for Graham County Sheriff. His campaign took off and he was elected in 1988.

He was sheriff for two terms until 1997. He was named Elected Official of the Year by the Arizona-New Mexico Coalition of Counties in 1994, received the NRA Law Officer of the Year, inducted into the NRA Hall of Fame, 1995 Cicero Award, Samuel Adams Leadership Award from the Local Sovereignty Coalition, and Gun Owners of America Defender of the Second Amendment Award.

During his tenure, federal officers informed the sheriffs of the state that they would be required to enforce the so-called "Brady Bill" and run background checks at their expense under the law. In 1994, Mack and six other sheriffs from across the country, challenged the constitutionality of the Brady Bill and ultimately, fought it all the way to the United States Supreme Court, where they won a monumental decision for freedom.

Three years later, in a landmark 5-4 split decision based on the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, Mack won his case.

A graduate of the FBI National Academy, some of Mack's positions include: patrol officer, undercover narcotics officer, hostage negotiator, youth officer, school resource officer, communications supervisor, corporal, front desk sergeant, detective, sheriff, Search and Rescue supervisor, jail administrator, and DARE instructor.

Mack has been a consultant on numerous cases regarding police abuse, brutality, and other misconduct by public officials. He has joined with other members of the law enforcement community to speak out in favor of drug policy reform.

A graduate of Brigham Young University, Mack lives with his wife in Fredericksburg, Texas.

During the past two years Sheriff Mack has been a speaker at more than 70 different Tea Party rallies all across the country, ranging all the way from Honolulu to Bangor, Maine. Mack has supported this noble movement, because it is both effective and peaceful.