Latest news with #Christopher'Kit'Bond
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honoring Governor Kit Bond: Founding Governor of MOHELA and Champion of Higher Education
CHESTERFIELD, Mo., May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Higher Education Loan Authority of Missouri (MOHELA) joins the state and nation in mourning the passing of Governor Christopher 'Kit' Bond, who died on May 13, 2025, at the age of 86. Governor Bond's visionary leadership and enduring commitment to public service were instrumental in the creation of MOHELA, which he signed into law in 1981. As a dedicated public servant, Kit Bond recognized the transformative power of education. The establishment of MOHELA reflected a bold commitment to expanding access to higher education for Missouri students. Over the past four decades, MOHELA has helped millions of students and families manage the cost of college, thanks to the foundation Governor Bond laid. 'Governor Bond's legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of MOHELA,' said Scott Giles, Executive Director and CEO of MOHELA. 'His belief in the importance of education and opportunity continues to guide our mission every day. We are forever grateful for his leadership and vision.' Governor Bond's distinguished career included two terms as Missouri's governor and four terms in the U.S. Senate. He was widely respected for his bipartisan approach and his work on issues ranging from education and infrastructure to national security and economic development. Further, Governor Bond was noteworthy for fighting for the interests and improving the lives of Missourians. MOHELA extends its deepest condolences to Governor Bond's family and loved ones. His legacy lives on in the students we serve and the futures we help build. About MOHELA MOHELA is a non-profit, governmental corporation with 40 years of experience and a track record of providing exceptional customer service to the borrowers it serves. MOHELA plays an essential role in the student loan ecosystem, providing support and assistance for around 9 million borrowers. CONTACT: Contact: Arisha Syed ArishaS@
Toronto Star
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Four-term US Sen. Christopher ‘Kit' Bond remembered for training a generation of Missouri leaders
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Christopher 'Kit' Bond, a Republican who was Missouri's youngest governor before serving four terms in the U.S. Senate, was remembered Tuesday as a beloved statesman who helped train a generation of leaders. The Missouri State Highway Patrol escorted his body from St. Louis, where he died last week at the age of 86, to the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, where hundreds of people gathered for a memorial service. Bond is to lie in state through Wednesday so members of the public can pay their respects.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Memorial services set to honor Kit Bond's legacy in Missouri
ST. LOUIS – Former Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator Christopher 'Kit' Bond is being remembered this week with memorial services in St. Louis and Jefferson City following his death at the age of 86. Bond, who served Missourians for decades both in the statehouse and in Washington, D.C., passed away last week. A state memorial service will take place Tuesday in Jefferson City, where Bond will lie in state for 24 hours to allow the public to pay their respects. The memorial service in Jefferson City will begin with a Missouri State Highway Patrol escort transporting Bond from St. Louis to the Capitol at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. The service at the Rotunda is scheduled to start at noon and will feature tributes from state leaders and musical honors from the 135th Army Band. More strong to severe storms possible Monday evening Governor Mike Kehoe has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff through Thursday, the day of Bond's celebration of life in St. Louis. This gesture marks a final farewell to a man who had a major influence on Missouri policy for decades, from economic development to national security. Bond's political career began at age 29 when he entered public office as Assistant Attorney General. He lost the Missouri governor's race as an incumbent in 1976 but won it back in 1980. Despite being a Republican, Bond is remembered by many Democrats for his integrity, respect, compassion, pride, and sense of humor. As Missouri bids farewell to Kit Bond, his legacy as a dedicated public servant and policy shaper is honored through these memorial services. The state reflects on his contributions and the impact he had during his tenure. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Longtime Missouri Sen. Kit Bond dies at 86
Christopher 'Kit' Bond, a Republican who brought billions of dollars in federal funding to Missouri during his four terms in the U.S. Senate and who was state's the youngest person to be governor, died Tuesday. He was 86. Bond's family told Gov. Mike Kehoe's office that Bond died in St. Louis, but it didn't disclose the cause, Gabby Picard, a spokesperson for the governor, said in an email. Kehoe ordered flags flown at half staff for the man he described as a 'skilled statesman.' Jason Van Eaton, Bond's former deputy chief of staff, told The Associated Press that his former boss' death marked the end of an era. 'The lasting legacy of Kit Bond will be the thousands of people that he inspired,' he said. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, of Missouri, described Bond as a 'champion for Missouri' in a message on X. Former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, of Missouri, praised Bond's 'relentless and penetrating intelligence' in a statement. As a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Bond secured federal money for big and small projects in Missouri, scoffing at government watchdog groups that considered him a master of pork-barrel spending. 'If it's pork, it's an awfully healthy diet for the people of Missouri,' Bond said in 1999. Early in his career, Bond was considered a political wunderkind. When he took office at age 33 as Missouri's youngest governor, he was also the state's first Republican chief executive in about three decades and garnered consideration as a vice presidential candidate. His early success stalled when he lost a reelection bid, but he later rebounded to win another term as governor before being elected to the Senate in 1986 and eventually becoming the patriarch of the Missouri Republican Party. 'Public service has been a blessing and a labor of love for me,' Bond said during his 2009 announcement to a joint session of the Legislature that he would not seek another term. Former Gov. Matt Blunt, who was the state's second-youngest governor, recalled the advice and friendship Bond offered after his 2004 election. He called Bond's death a 'profound loss.' When Bond entered the Senate, he downplayed hot-button issues in favor of working on legislation that benefited Missouri. Early in his career, Bond voted to override President Ronald Reagan's veto of a highway financing bill that included money for projects in Missouri. Bond assumed a higher national profile during his last term in the Senate. After the U.S. invasion of Iraq, he became a primary spokesman for congressional Republicans about the war during the time leading up to the 2006 elections. Eventually, though, the Bush administration's central allegation that Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction proved baseless. After Republicans lost control of Congress in 2006, Bond sought to mend relations with Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee after years of discord over its investigation into intelligence before the invasion of Iraq. Testaments to Bond's longevity in the public arena are stamped across Missouri. A federal courthouse in Jefferson City and a life sciences center at the University of Missouri-Columbia are named after him. A highway bridge crossing the Missouri River in Hermann and one in Kansas City also carry his name. Bond often bragged about his wife, Linda, a fundraising consultant whom he married in 2002, and his son from his previous marriage, Sam. 'I have a wonderful wife, a magnificent son I'm very proud of, I have the opportunity to serve the state I love,' he told the AP in 2004.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Longtime Missouri Sen. Kit Bond dies at 86
Christopher 'Kit' Bond, a Republican who brought billions of dollars in federal funding to Missouri during his four terms in the U.S. Senate and who was state's the youngest person to be governor, died Tuesday. He was 86. Bond's family told Gov. Mike Kehoe's office that Bond died in St. Louis, but it didn't disclose the cause, Gabby Picard, a spokesperson for the governor, said in an email. Kehoe ordered flags flown at half staff for the man he described as a 'skilled statesman.' Jason Van Eaton, Bond's former deputy chief of staff, told The Associated Press that his former boss' death marked the end of an era. 'The lasting legacy of Kit Bond will be the thousands of people that he inspired,' he said. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, of Missouri, described Bond as a 'champion for Missouri' in a message on X. Former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, of Missouri, praised Bond's 'relentless and penetrating intelligence' in a statement. As a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Bond secured federal money for big and small projects in Missouri, scoffing at government watchdog groups that considered him a master of pork-barrel spending. 'If it's pork, it's an awfully healthy diet for the people of Missouri,' Bond said in 1999. Early in his career, Bond was considered a political wunderkind. When he took office at age 33 as Missouri's youngest governor, he was also the state's first Republican chief executive in about three decades and garnered consideration as a vice presidential candidate. His early success stalled when he lost a reelection bid, but he later rebounded to win another term as governor before being elected to the Senate in 1986 and eventually becoming the patriarch of the Missouri Republican Party. 'Public service has been a blessing and a labor of love for me,' Bond said during his 2009 announcement to a joint session of the Legislature that he would not seek another term. Former Gov. Matt Blunt, who was the state's second-youngest governor, recalled the advice and friendship Bond offered after his 2004 election. He called Bond's death a 'profound loss.' When Bond entered the Senate, he downplayed hot-button issues in favor of working on legislation that benefited Missouri. Early in his career, Bond voted to override President Ronald Reagan's veto of a highway financing bill that included money for projects in Missouri. Bond assumed a higher national profile during his last term in the Senate. After the U.S. invasion of Iraq, he became a primary spokesman for congressional Republicans about the war during the time leading up to the 2006 elections. Eventually, though, the Bush administration's central allegation that Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction proved baseless. After Republicans lost control of Congress in 2006, Bond sought to mend relations with Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee after years of discord over its investigation into intelligence before the invasion of Iraq. Testaments to Bond's longevity in the public arena are stamped across Missouri. A federal courthouse in Jefferson City and a life sciences center at the University of Missouri-Columbia are named after him. A highway bridge crossing the Missouri River in Hermann and one in Kansas City also carry his name. Bond often bragged about his wife, Linda, a fundraising consultant whom he married in 2002, and his son from his previous marriage, Sam. 'I have a wonderful wife, a magnificent son I'm very proud of, I have the opportunity to serve the state I love,' he told the AP in 2004.
