ILLINOIS (WCIA) -- Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar died on Sunday at the age of 79.

Edgar, a Republican who served as the 38th governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999, announced earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

He grew up in Charleston and graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor's in history. In 2012, he developed the Edgar Fellows initiative, meant to help future Illinois leaders learn more about public policy, while also encouraging respectful collaboration.

On Sunday, leaders in Illinois across the political spectrum remembered Edgar as a leader and as a public servant.

In a statement, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias shared that Edgar was a "great friend and advisor."

Jim spoke frequently about the importance of

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