Former senator ‘Kit’ Bond dies at 86

Editor's Note: A sentence referencing an executive order from the 1800s has been corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A longtime U.S. senator from Missouri with roots in Audrain County had died.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a news release that Christopher "Kit" Bond died early Tuesday in St. Louis at age 86. He was originally from Mexico, Missouri, where his maternal grandfather, A.P. Green, was a well-known businessman.

Kehoe told ABC 17 News Tuesday that he viewed Bond as an inspiration and mentor to not only himself, but to hundreds of other people in public service.

"He knew that you needed to govern and that you couldn't just pay attention to social media and what critics were saying," Kehoe said. "He needed to make right decisions that were for all Missourians and I don't know anybody that I've met in my political career that has done it better than Kit Bond."

Bond was a fixture in Missouri's political scene for decades. He was sworn in as Missouri governor in 1973 and again in 1981, then won a U.S. Senate seat in 1986. He would stay in that seat until his retirement following the 2010 election.

He was the state auditor before he was governor, winning office at age 31 over a 17-year incumbent in 1970. He was also the youngest Missourian to be elected governor.

Bond won his Senate seat after Thomas Eagleton decided not to run for reelection. Roy Blunt won the seat when Bond retired.

“His legacy as a ‘favorite son’ to his beloved State of Missouri lives on through all he achieved for his home state," Kehoe said in a news release. "Kit touched the lives of so many men and women throughout his career, and today I join them in grieving the loss of a good man. Just as they will miss their friend and mentor, so will I. On behalf of all Missourians, Claudia and I share our deepest condolences and offer our prayers for his wife Linda, his son Sam, and the entire Bond family.”

The Bond Life Sciences Center at the University of Missouri and the Christpher S. Bond Federal Courthouse in Jefferson City bear his name.

The Missouri Primary Care Association said in a release that Bond was a champion for federally funded community health centers, which serve low-income populations. Missouri's community health centers increased from 14 to 21 during his time in the U.S. Senate, the organization said.

"We're now the largest primary care network in the country and I think without his support, we would not be and we would not have the 400 access points that we have around the state of Missouri today," CEO Joe Pierle said. "Many Missourians wouldn't be able to access medical, dental, behavioral health services."

Bond was a social conservative who voted consistently against abortion rights and same-sex marriage. He was rated strongly by anti-abortion and evangelical groups for his Senate voting record on social issues.

"Farewell to a giant," Missouri Republican Party chairman Peter Kinder said in a statement.

Former Missourinet Chief and historian Bob Priddy said he remembers Bond as someone who came in with a lot to prove as a 33-year-old governor and said he admired his work ethic. He also remembers one of Bond's most infamous executive orders. It rescinded Gov. Lilburn Boggs's order that allowed for the killing of Mormons in the 1800s when Missouri Christians and Mormons were fighting.

He also highlighted his role in reorganizing the state government in the 1970s and bringing the Parents as Teachers Program to the state.

Priddy said Bond learned how to build relationships and used those to get things done while in office.

"He wasnt afraid to tak with people across the aisle, work with people across the aisle. And when he wanted something, he could call in some chips from time to time if he had to do that," Priddy said. "But  I think a lot of that was his relationships and once he got comfortable with himself as an officeholder as governor, I think he was very good at that."

Flags around the state will be lowered to half-staff until after Bond's funeral.

Kehoe announced in a Tuesday afternoon press release that a memorial service will be held for Bond at the Capitol Rotunda at noon Tuesday, May 20. The public is invited to attend and the former senator’s body will be at the Capitol Rotunda for 24 hours following the service.

A closed celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 22 at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church in St. Louis.