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Former Illinois Gov. James Thompson, 'Big Jim,' Dies At 84

Jim Thompson
M. Spencer Green
/
AP
Former Gov. Jim Thompson, known as “Big Jim” during a long career that eventually made him the state's longest-serving chief executive, has died. He was 84.";s:

Former Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson has died. He was 84.

Thompson was known as “Big Jim” during a long career that eventually made him the state’s longest-serving chief executive.

His wife, Jayne, told the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times that he died shortly after 8 p.m. Friday at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. The Tribune, citing a police report, reported Thompson had been recovering there for several weeks after suffering heart problems.

Thompson was a Republican from Chicago who was first elected in 1976. He served four terms. A moderate, he managed the state through recession years in the 1980s.

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