Mention the name Shriver in Connecticut and inevitably someone will bring up the 1995 Special Olympics World Games, one of the biggest events ever held in our state. We all remember the two people who were front and center at the festivities: Eunice and Sargent Shriver. This Sunday we were joined on Face the State by one of their sons, Mark Shriver.

Shriver is the author of a book about his dad, “A Good Man: Rediscovering my father Sargent Shriver.” Kara and I met Mark last year at a book signing at the home of local public relations moguls Mary Coursey and her husband Chuck, one of Shriver’s college buddies.

During our taping Shriver talked about the book, and his legacy his parents left behind. His mother had an impact on hundreds of thousands of people, without ever having held elected office. Eunice Shriver changed the way the world looked at people with mental disabilities. In a clip you’ll see Sunday, Sargent Shriver talks about how the Special Olympics and awareness increased by his wife, help lead to the demise of mental institutions across the country. Sargent Shriver was the first director of the Peace Corps, Ambassador to France, candidate, and the list goes on.

While on the Face the State set, Mark Shriver also talked about public service, and what he is doing now, and what we can all do to help. We chatted about being a member of a political family, and Shriver shared his recollections of his father’s runs for office in 1972, as George McGovern’s running mate, and in 1976 when he sought the White House.

Shriver was in Hartford to serve as guest speaker of the Archbishop’s annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast at the Connecticut Convention Center at Adriaen’s Landing.

You can watch the entire interview with Mark Shriver, right here: http://www.wfsb.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8636298

We were also joined by the Archbishop of Hartford, the Most Reverend Henry Mansell. Here’s a preview of that here:
http://dennishouse.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/archbishop-mansell-pro-choice-catholic-politicians-should-not-receive-communion/

Also watch Shriver’s cousin, Ted Kennedy, Junior on his Face the State appearance last year.
http://dennishouse.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/connecticuts-kennedy-ready-to-hit-campaign-trail/