Chuck Graham, former Columbia state legislator and disabilities advocate, dies

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Chuck Graham, a former state representative and senator from Columbia, passed away overnight.

Graham's wife, Kate Graham, said on Facebook that the former legislator and advocate for people with disabilities died from an apparent heart attack.

Chuck Graham was 55 years old.

Graham served in the Missouri General Assembly from 1997 to 2009 as a Democrat from Columbia. He served four terms as a state representative in what was then House District 24. He was elected to the Missouri State Senate in 2005.

Graham used a wheelchair to get around following a car crash when he was in high school. Brian Treece, mayor of Columbia and friend of Graham, said Graham helped break down barriers.

"During his first campaign, a lot of people said he could not win because of the physical rigors of the campaign," Treece said. "But volunteers would go door-to-door and lift Chuck up front porches so he could talk to voters. On election night, there’s a photo of him being raised above the crowd.  Turns out, Chuck Graham was the one who lifted us up."

Graham served as head of the Columbia Disabilities Commission.