Bob Michel, the longest-serving U.S. House minority leader, died of pneumonia Friday morning at an Arlington Hospital. He was 93.
The World War II veteran was first elected to Congress in 1956 and represented West Central Illinois for 38 years.
Brad McMillan, head of the Institute for Principled Leadership at Bradley University, worked for Michel for some time before he retired from Congress in 1995. McMillan says the loss of such a humble gentleman and statesmen is particularly difficult right now.
“The entire time Ronald Reagan was president, the Republicans were in a significant minority in the House of Representatives," McMillan said. “So the only way that any of Reagan’s policies got passed was because of Bob Michel and Reagan’s bipartisan leadership.”
McMillan says Michel was great at listening and gentle persuasion. Michel received the Medal of Freedom in 1994, the Presidential Citizens Medal in 1989, and the first Congressional Distinguished Service Award in 2000.
Michel was House Republican leader from 1981 to 1995, retiring just as his party took control of Congress with a more confrontational approach.
In his farewell speech in November 1994, Michel reflected on his good working relationship with his Democratic counterpart.
“We may disagree on the issues and we may have diametrically opposed views of what constitutes good policy for the country,” Michel said. “But what matters in the long run is the ability to trust each other, because trust is often the foundation upon which House members can form a consensus that transcends party lines."
Michel saw significant combat In World War II, landing at Utah Beach on D-Day and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was wounded.
He holds two bronze stars and a purple heart. The Veterans Administration Clinic in Peoria, a bridge over the Illinois River, and the Bradley University Student Center are named for him.
A visitation for Michel is scheduled in Peoria next Friday, and a memorial service will be held at Bradley University next Saturday.
- Illinois Public Radio's Brian Mackey and Tonya Koonce contributed to this report.