Jay Rockefeller last of political dynasty and West Virginia champion dies at 89

Jay Rockefeller, a former West Virginia governor and longtime U.S. senator who stood as the sole Democrat and final figure of his prominent family's political line, has died at the age of 89.His passing occurred Thursday night at his residence in Washington, according to Mary Stewart, vice president for external affairs at public broadcasting station WETA, where Rockefeller’s wife, Sharon, serves as president and CEO.Hailing from one of America's wealthiest dynasties, Rockefeller devoted 50 years to public service in one of its poorest states. His career began in 1964 as a worker for an anti-poverty program, leading to two terms as governor starting a dozen years later, followed by three decades in the U.S. senator role."I could not imagine a more rewarding career," Rockefeller said upon his retirement in 2015.Born John D. Rockefeller IV in New York City, he was the great-grandson of Standard Oil Co. founder John Rockefeller, who died a month prior to his birth. His father, John D. Rockefeller III, was a well-known philanthropist, while his uncles Winthrop and Nelson served as Republican governors of Arkansas and New York, respectively, and another uncle, David Rockefeller, headed Chase Manhattan Bank.A detour from his family's path, Jay Rockefeller went in a different direction.A few years out of college at age 27, Rockefeller relocated to the West Virginia coal mining town of Emmons to join the Volunteers in Service to America program, a period he described as transformative."It explains every policy I pursued and every vote I have cast. It was where my beliefs were bolted down, and where my passions met my principles," he said in an emotional farewell speech from the Senate floor on Dec. 4, 2014.Although he initially intended for his stay in the state to be brief, Rockefeller broke from his family’s Republican tradition and was elected to the state House of Delegates as a Democrat in 1966. Balancing personal resources with hard work in a traditionally Democratic state, Rockefeller overcame initial suspicions of political opportunism, rising from state legislator to secretary of state to governor.A turning point came following his only political defeat in the 1972 governor’s race to Republican Arch A. Moore Jr., whose daughter, Republican Shelley Moore Capito, was elected in 2014 to Rockefeller’s Senate seat upon his retirement. Capito on Friday called Rockefeller "a true gentleman" who treated her with respect, kindness and encouragement."Over the years, we developed a wonderful friendship that transcended politics, and I will always be grateful for that," she said in a statement.After that defeat, Rockefeller remained in West Virginia, a choice he called the most important decision of his career. He became the first person without a theological degree to become president of West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1973. His standing there, combined with a shift in position to embrace strip mining, resulted in a landslide victory over Republican Cecil Underwood in the 1976 governor’s race.As governor, Rockefeller emphasized the development of state infrastructure, including roads, sewers and bridges. Those issues, he noted, are "not very sexy things, I grant you but very, very necessary in West Virginia."Current Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Rockefeller helped shape the state and left a lasting mark on generations of West Virginians."From his early work in some of our state’s most disadvantaged communities to his efforts to strengthen healthcare, protect coal miners and their families, and support our veterans, Senator Rockefeller demonstrated a deep commitment to the people of West Virginia," Morrisey said in a statement.Onward to Washington After defeating Arch Moore in a 1980 rematch, Rockefeller won a U.S. Senate seat in 1984 following the retirement of veteran Democrat Jennings Randolph. That victory came despite a landslide win that year for Republican President Ronald Reagan.President Bill Clinton, left, and Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va., right, arrive at the West Virginia State Capitol Building in 1993 (AP Photo/Joe Marquette)Rockefeller and his wife, Sharon, daughter of former Republican Sen. Charles Percy of Illinois, settled into the capital’s social scene, purchasing a multimillion-dollar estate for their family. Never shy or apologetic about using his inherited $150 million fortune to win races, he spent millions upon millions from his own pocket, securing comfortable winning margins in each of his five terms.His vast fortune was a constant topic of conversation and an undercurrent throughout his political campaigns. He spent at least $21 million of his own money in political races, including $9 million to win a close 1984 Senate race against Republican novice and fellow multimillionaire John Raese. During Rockefeller’s 1980 gubernatorial contest against Republican Arch Moore Jr., opponents displayed bumper stickers reading: "Make Him Spend It All, Arch."Serving as the state’s junior senator for 25 years, Rockefeller forged his own path of influence beside Sen. Robert C. Byrd. Byrd died in 2010 as the longest-serving senator in U.S. history, having built a reputation for directing billions of dollars over decades to assist his impoverished state.Rockefeller’s approach was less showy. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, he championed consumer protection, upgraded broadband infrastructure, and sponsored legislation to block companies from tracking customer online activity. In 1997, he authored legislation creating the Children’s Health Insurance Program to assist poor families whose incomes exceed Medicaid limits.He also led committees on Veterans' Affairs and Intelligence, frequently sparring with President George W. Bush on foreign policy. Rockefeller later expressed regret for his 2002 vote authorizing the war against Iraq.However, Rockefeller also broke with the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama over energy regulations. Representing the nation’s second-biggest coal producer, Rockefeller joined other West Virginia officials in opposing the Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency’s oversight of mountaintop removal surface mining.College studies in Tokyo laid the groundwork for his efforts to bring Japanese investment to West Virginia. Having known Toyota’s founding family since the 1960s, he was instrumental in helping the automaker select a site in Buffalo, West Virginia, for an engine parts plant in 1996. The $2 billion plant now employs roughly 2,200 workers.JAY ROCKEFELLER-DECESO (AP)