Article Summary

After disclosing aggressive pancreatic cancer diagnosis in February, former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar died on Sunday.

Edgar spent nearly his entire adult life in and around Illinois government and politics, starting as an intern and staffer for Republican legislative leaders before his own political rise.

Edgar governed as a moderate — not shying away from his pro-choice stance on abortion — at a time when his party was still a powerhouse in Illinois.

He also served as secretary of state, counting construction of the Illinois State Library in Springfield as one of his crowning achievements.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

Jim Edgar, Illinois’ 38 th governor who served from 1991 to 1999, died Sunday after disc

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