Edgar Honored by Friends, Family as "An Icon"
Former First Lady Brenda Edgar is seated while the casket of her husband, former Gov. Jim Edgar, is rolled into place at the start of his funeral service Saturday. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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At a Baptist church he joined in 1967 in the shadows of the Governor’s Mansion he occupied for eight years in the 90’s, former Governor Jim Edgar was celebrated Saturday for his service to Illinois, his kindness to friends, and love for his family.
Edgar died last Sunday as a result of complications from pancreatic cancer treatment. He was 79.
Edgar, who was born in Oklahoma and raised in Charleston, served in the House from 1977-1979 before he was named Legislative Director for then-Gov. Jim Thompson. Thompson then appointed Edgar as Secretary of State in 1981. He won full terms to the office in 1982 and 1986. Edgar was elected Governor in 1990 and sailed to re-election in 1994, winning 101 of Illinois’ 102 counties.
After his time in public life, Edgar was most recognized for his work with the “Edgar Fellows” program at the University of Illinois, bringing public officials together from both sides of the aisle to “forthrightly address major policy issues without permitting partisan, ethnic, and regional rivalries to trump statesmanship.”
Gov. JB Pritzker was among those to eulogize Edgar.
“In the last few days, I’ve reflected on what I think everyone should know about Jim Edgar,” Pritzker said. “But it all boils down to this: he’s good people.”
Pritzker praised Edgar as a “unifying” figure in state politics.
“Jim Edgar was exemplary in so many ways,” said Pritzker, a Democrat who named the Republican a co-chair of his transition committee in 2018. “Fortunately for me and for Illinois, Governor Jim Edgar’s values and judgement and service have been a model to follow.”
Former Gov. Pat Quinn, former First Lady Jayne Thompson, Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, House Speaker Chris Welch, Senate President Don Harmon, House GOP Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), Senate GOP Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove), Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Peoria), and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield) were among dignitaries in attendance.
Former Congressman and former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who has known Edgar for more than 40 years, eulogized Edgar as “maybe the best Governor we’ve ever had in Illinois.” As he joked in the direction of Gov. Pritzker, “with all due respect, Governor. Certainly the best Republican governor, ok?”
“Jim Edgar is the gold standard for public service, for honesty, and for integrity,” LaHood said.
LaHood says the Edgar Fellows program is likely to be the former Governor’s most notable legacy.
“When people mention the Edgar name, it will be followed by ‘the Fellows,” LaHood said. “That will be his legacy. There are people in this church and all over Illinois who have benefitted from the Edgar Fellows program. Smart, young people who gathered together in Champaign over the past ten-plus years to learn from respected leaders. What did Jim Edgar want the Fellows to be? A learning experiment on how to listen and how to lead.”
More than any of his public service remembered Saturday, were the memories shared from family. From his voracious love of books to stamp collections to beloved family dogs, his children and grandchildren most of all remembered his unending love for his family.
“It was important to him to be a good father and grandfather,” said Brad Edgar, Jim Edgar’s son. “He was really proud of his five grandchildren. He delighted in their personalities and their potential. We’re grateful for the time we had with our dad and all the memories. When we knew our time was limited, we had a greater sense of appreciation, reflection, and tenderness. He was both a great father and friend.”
But Edgar will be remembered by many as a popular, caring, successful governor.
“As Governor, Jim was a steady hand and a comforting, calming presence for our state through times of crisis,” Pritzker said. “He could walk into a room of people he disagreed with, hold on to his strong views, and still listen and learn with a full heart.”
Edgar is survived by Brenda Edgar, his wife of 58 years, two children, and five grandchildren.
He will be buried at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield.
