Former Iowa governor Robert D. Ray dead at 89

Former Iowa Gov. Robert Ray (R), who served in that position for fourteen years, has died, according to The Associated Press. He was 89 years old.  

Ray died in an Iowa nursing home after a years-long battle with Parkinson’s disease, the AP reported.

Ray, who served five consecutive terms as governor from 1969 to 1983, gained notice for resettling thousands of refugees from the Vietnam War in Iowa, and for serving as a leader during a time of enormous social upheaval in the U.S.{mosads}

“It was saving the lives of refugees,” Ray said. “People would say that you might not get reelected and I would say I can make more money if I don’t get reelected.”

He also helped found Iowa Shares, a charity that raised almost $2.1 million for food and other resources to send to Thailand refugee camps. 

He once grounded all Iowa Air National Guard planes until the Pentagon paid damages to two families whose homes had been destroyed by military plane crashes, according to the Des Moines Register.

Current Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) released a statement praising Ray’s tenure as governor.

“Gov. Ray’s legacy lives on in the millions of people that he impacted as a tremendous statesman for Iowa and our nation,” Reynolds said in the statement, according to the Register. “His civility, courage and common-sense governing set a high standard for those who followed.”