CHICAGO (WGN) — Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar died Sunday at the age of 79, according to multiple sources.

Edgar, who served as Illinois’ 38^th governor from 1991 to 1999, was widely regarded as a steady hand in the state’s politics. He was the last Republican governor elected more than once in Illinois.

Born in 1946 in rural Oklahoma, Edgar’s family moved to Coles County when he was just a toddler. He grew up in Charleston where he stayed for college at Eastern Illinois.

Edgar married his college sweetheart, Brenda. But he didn’t make the first move.

Edgar would say he liked to let the girls come to him. Fortunately for him, a friend told him Brenda was open to going out on a date with him.

“Then I called Brenda up because I figured she wouldn’t tell me no. And we started dating,” he said.

Edgar then kicked off his career in politics. First, as an intern for Illinois Senate President W. Russell Arrington. After an unsuccessful bid for state representative, Edgar tried again years later. He won and would never lose another election again.

At age 35, Governor Jim Thompason tapped Edgar for statewide office.

Known by staff as “The Reader” due to his love of books, Edgar led the charge on a new state library building.

He also ended use of the prison labor for state license plates, made Illinois one of the first state to require car insurance and overhauled drunk driving laws.

Edgar became governor during a recession and he was forced to make tough decision about the budget. He battled with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, who dubbed Edgar “Governor No.”

“We’re gonna have to make cuts and gonna have to reset our spending priorities and show some discipline. And I think we can do that both in this state and at the local level and provide the necessary services to the people of Illinois,” he said. “We can’t keep running back year after year in asking for more from the taxpayers.”

Despite the need for fiscal restraint, Edgar remained popular with votes and he earned admirers on both sides of the aisle.

Earlier this year at the dedication of the State Library reading room for Edgar, Gov. JB Pritzker shared advice Edgar had given him years earlier.

“He said, ‘You really only have one critical job as governor, and that’s pass a budget,'” Pritzker said.

In Illinois, the bar for success for governors has been low in recent decades. Two of Edgars successors wound up going to prison.

Earlier this year, Edgar revealed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton released the following statement on Edgar’s passing:

Former Governor Jim Edgar was a man of principle and a passionately dedicated civil servant. He saw past political divides and emphasized the importance of unity in leadership by making a point to always extend his hand across the aisle. He was practical, gave great advice, and did everything he could to build up the next generation of future leaders so that Illinois can continue to grow.

I was part of the 2016 Edgar Fellows cohort, a program developed by Governor Edgar 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. When he invited me to become a member of the Edgar Fellows Advisory Board, I was honored to accept. Now, I have the privilege of sharing his steady perspective and deep care with future leaders.

Today, I send my deepest condolences to the love of his life, Brenda, and their entire family. His legacy is one of lasting impact.“

Pritzker released the following statement on his passing:

“MK and I are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Governor Jim Edgar. Governor Edgar was 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 Governor Edgar did: with honesty, integrity, and an enduring respect for all.

He will live on in the incalculable number of lives he touched and in the stronger institutions he helped build. To honor his legacy, I will direct flags across Illinois to half-staff.

My thoughts are with Brenda, Brad, Elizabeth, and his entire family. May his memory be a blessing.”