COLUMBIA - Former state Sen. Verne Smith, whose 2001 party switch to the GOP gave Republicans control of the state Senate for the first time since Reconstruction, is dead at 81.

Smith's son Jeff said his father died Sunday morning after a long illness that prevented his bone marrow from fighting infections. The condition, diagnosed after Smith had gall bladder surgery more than a year ago, kept Smith out of the state Senate for all of this year's session.

In July Smith resigned the seat he had held since 1973. "I thought it was my duty to resign so somebody could get out and get around" to represent the district, Smith said at the time.

Smith, from Greer, has a unique spot in South Carolina politics.

After the 2000 elections the Senate was evenly split with 23 Democrats and 23 Republicans. Smith, with the urging of President Bush, bolted from the Democratic Party and gave Republicans control of the Senate and the Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. Republicans had controlled the House since 1994.

"That was a tough decision," Jeff Smith said. But the senator though that he could best serve his constituents by switching parties and keeping a Senate committee chairmanship, he said.

Before resigning Smith had risen to No. 2 in Senate seniority behind John Drummond, D-Ninety Six. Smith was known as an advocate for the frail, elderly and children, and worked to expand the state's Medicaid programs to help them.

"He had a tremendous impact on the Medicaid system in this state," Senate Democratic Leader John Land said.

In the last few years Smith pushed plans to increase what had become the nation's lowest cigarette tax to help Medicaid and health care programs. The 3-for-1 federal match for state Medicaid spending made that an easy decision, Smith said at a 2002 Statehouse rally.

"When you can get three Yankee dollars for every dollar South Carolina puts in, it don't take a computer to figure that out," Smith said. "You can figure that out with a short pencil and a paper bag."

Land, now No. 2 in Senate seniority, noted that Smith had "seen a lot of shenanigans" in his 33 years in the Senate and "was not afraid to speak his mind when he saw silliness - as he called it - brought forward."

"You always wanted him on your side," Senate Republican Leader Harvey Peeler said. "It was hard to get something over on Verne."

Former House Speaker David Wilkins said his old Greenville legislative delegation member "really tried to helped the Upstate." Wilkins, now U.S. Ambassador to Canada, said Greer and Greenville "were great beneficiaries of his hard work in demanding the Upstate get its fair share." That included efforts to launch Greenville's University Center, where several universities hold classes, and to help BMW Manufacturing Corp. set up operations in his district.

"I don't think he saw people as Democrats or Republicans," Wilkins said.

Land noted that Smith came back a bit to his Democrat roots this fall. He appeared in commercials for Democrat Tommy Moore in his gubernatorial campaign and put at least $25,000 into efforts to oust Republican Gov. Mark Sanford.

"I never have liked the governor that we've got now," Smith said in September.

Smith's wife of 38 years, Jean, died 29 days ago after a stroke, Jeff Smith said.

The World War II Army veteran returned to South Carolina and was known around his hometown in Greer for the tire stores he operated there and in Mauldin.

"He loved the Senate, but he loved Mrs. Smith above everything else," Peeler said. "The old flat tire fixer from Greer is in heaven with his wife. He always called her 'Momma.' She was the only one who could handle him."