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.
On behalf of the entire state of Illinois, MK and I offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Governor Jim Thompson.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) August 15, 2020
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/r3oUHBgClq