Former House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Charlie Stenholm died May 17 at his home in Granbury, Tex. He was 84 years old.

Stenholm was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1979. He served 13 terms and was one of the last conservative-leaning Democrats to hold national office in Texas. He lost his bid for another term in 2004 after the Republican-led Texas Legislature redrew the state’s congressional map, putting him in a heavily GOP-leaning district.

During the 1980s, Stenholm joined a block of Southern Democrats known as the “Boll Weevils” that supported Republican fiscal policy. Later as a founder and co-chair of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, Stenholm earned praise for his ability to reach across the aisle and help craft bipartisan legislation.

From 1997 to 2005, Stenholm served as Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee. During that time, he chaired multiple subcommittees. Following the news of his passing, current Committee Chair GT. Thompson, R- Pa., and Ranking Member David Scott, D- Ga., issued a joint statement honoring his life and career.

"We are saddened to learn of the passing of Congressman Charles Stenholm, a distinguished public servant who dedicated more than 26 years of his life to the people of Texas and the United States,” Thompson and Scott said. “Charlie had an intimate understanding of American agriculture and a lifelong commitment to supporting rural communities. He will be greatly missed by many. Our hearts go out to his wife Cindy and his family. They will be in our prayers.”

In late 2004, Stenholm donated his legislative papers as well as various photos, videos and correspondence from his Congressional career to Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Tex. The donations gave students studying agriculture policy and politics a treasure trove of information to pour offer that has yet to be fully processed. News of Stenholm’s passing hit the school hard.

“Former U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm was and always will be a treasured Tarleton Texan,” University President Dr. James Hurley said. “We are heartbroken to hear of his passing.”

Before running for Congress, Stenholm ran his family’s large cotton farm for many years while teaching vocational courses on the side. He and his wife, Cynthia Watson, had three children together. Stenholm was a charter trustee for the Cotton Producer Institute.

He remained active in agriculture following his time in public office. Stenholm worked as a lobbyist in Washington and taught agriculture courses as an adjunct professor at Tarleton State. Upon hearing of his passing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called him “a true champion of American farmers and ranchers.”