Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar died Sunday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 79.

Mr. Edgar died after being hospitalized due to a reaction to treatment for cancer. The former governor was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January.

In February, Mr. Edgar told the Chicago Sun-Times he was fighting the deadly disease because he had “a lot to hold out for.”

“I’ve told many people I want to stay around. I’ve got a few things I want to do and see. I want to see great-grandchildren. I kind of like to see my horses do a little better than they’ve done. So I’ve got a lot to hold out for. But to be very truthful, if it ended tomorrow, I’ve had a great life.”

Mr. Edgar was the state’s 38th governor, serving two terms from 1991 to 1999. He also served in the Illinois House of Repre

See Full Page