it runs through the heart of america, a long meandering lifeline, feeding industry, towns, and imaginations. the mississippi river gave us tom sawyer and huckleberry finn samuel climb as mark twain grew up in hannibal missouri, and just across the river in quincy illinois, lived another larger than life character. curtis lovelace, a small town katie wanted to be a star. and for a time he was, i football champion for the university of illinois. he s an all american? this was what kids dream about, he s living that life. it was looking like he would go to the nfl, that was kind of a dream of his. then he realized grander ambitions, fighting crime as a prosecutor, serving his country in the national guard, and a community in politics. i m someone who wants meaningful work and, it s going to make the difference in the lives of people. but it was what happened in