‘A major loss for the land of Lincoln’: Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar dies at age 79

Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, a moderate Republican who led the state from 1991 to 1999, died Sunday in a Springfield hospital.

Edgar died from complications of his treatment for pancreatic cancer. He was 79.

In a state with a long legacy of political strife and corruption — the two governors who followed him to the governor’s mansion both wound up in prison — Edgar was remembered by Republicans and Democrats alike for his decency and bipartisanship.

Gov. JB Pritzker hailed Edgar as a “model public servant, a devoted father and husband, and an honest and honorable man.”

“I was lucky enough to consider him a friend and mentor and have found myself drawing from his words of wisdom on countless occasions. His commitment to reaching across the aisle in service of the people of Illinois undeniably made our state better.

“Now more than ever, we should channel that spirit and resolve to live as Gov. Edgar did: with honesty, integrity, and an enduring respect for all.”

Pritzker, a Democrat, ordered that flags across Illinois fly at half-staff.

A native of Oklahoma, Edgar was raised in downstate Charleston.

Edgar was elected to the Illinois House in 1976 and was reelected two years later before being named legislative director for former Gov. Jim Thompson. Edgar served as Illinois secretary of state for a decade before becoming governor.

Edgar took office when the state was hundreds of millions of dollars in debt. A fiscal conservative, he pushed for budget cuts and made a temporary income tax surcharge permanent.

“It wasn’t always pretty how it was done, but we got a lot done,” Edgar told The Associated Press in 1998. “We went after some pretty tough issues. We didn’t get them all, but we got most of them.”

Despite his popularity, Edgar did not seek a third term. After leaving office, he taught and served as president emeritus of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.

In the 2024 presidential election, the Republican former governor spoke out against President Donald Trump and supported Kamala Harris.

Bipartisan tributes poured in from colleagues and friends.

“Gov. Jim Edgar was a good and decent man who cared deeply about the people of Illinois. He believed in property tax reform and a quality education for everyone,” said Gov. Pat Quinn.

Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, a former state senator who served as Edgar’s chief of staff, described him as “a fabulous public servant who loved deeply his family and Illinois. An extremely competent leader as governor and secretary of state.”

“His spirit will continue through the 500 Edgar Fellows he taught at the University of Illinois in Champaign stressing bipartisan service and problem solving. In a world of polarized political times, everyone should step back and take a lesson from Jim Edgar's legacy of compassion, decency, and cooperative collaboration,” Dillard said.

“His passing is a major loss for the Land of Lincoln.”

Edgar’s former running mate, Bob Kustra, said, “It was an honor to serve as Jim Edgar’s lieutenant governor. By any standard, he was a Republican whose integrity guided his time in office and who managed one of the most successful periods in Illinois state government. A student of history, he learned from those who came before him and now leaves a legacy with the Edgar Fellows he created to inspire and prepare future generations of Illinois leaders.”

Current Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton was part of the 2016 Edgar Fellows cohort, a program developed by the governor to strengthen Illinois’ future by preparing young leaders for the world ahead.

“Together, we worked to embody some of the tenets that made Governor Edgar such a strong leader: listen to understand, speak to be understood, and operate in a way that makes clear disagreements do not have to be disrespectful.”

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias called Edgar a “great friend and adviser” in a statement.

“Jim spoke frequently about the importance of the ‘Three C’s’: civility, compromise and compassion — words that resonate more than ever today,” Giannoulias said. “ … For Jim, compromise was not surrender; compassion was not weakness; and civility was not placation.”

Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran of Downers Grove offered words of remembrance as well.

“His legacy of common sense, bipartisan leadership will continue on through his many accomplishments here in Illinois,” Curran said in a statement.

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said he was honored to be part of the inaugural class of Edgar Fellows in 2012.

“We related to each other as Downstaters,” he said. “He was always open to discussing and offering advice or help, and I am grateful for that and his service to Illinois.

“Gov. Edgar was a gentleman and a statesman,” Frerichs added. “He broke with his party when he felt it was right for the state. He didn’t put partisanship above the state.”

Edgar is survived by his wife and two children.

· The Associated Press and Daily Herald staff writer Marni Pyke contributed to this story.