David was a staunch ally of open government who "fought relentlessly to end a program in which he charged the University of Louisville 'whored' for U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell by allowing donors to ingratiate themselves with the powerful Republican by making secret contributions to a scholarship program that bore his name. After The Courier Journal [filed suit under Kentucky's open records law], the Kentucky Supreme Court ultimately ended the practice."

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ky-supreme-court/1439464.html

Hawpe firmly believed in the importance of open government laws in empowering the media *and* the public.

A friend who never declined a call and regularly offered words of reassurance and encouragement, he shared with three directors of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition the honor of having received the University of Kentucky Scripps Howard First Amendment Center's James Madison Award for his advocacy of the enduring value of public's right to know.

https://ci.uky.edu/jam/james-madison-award (2020 recipient: The Kernel).

It was, indeed, an honor to have known him and to have counted him a trusted ally.