Longtime senator Strom Thurmond dead at 100

Longtime Strom Thurmond is dead at the age of 100, the Associated Press is reporting. e-mail this story Related Related stories: • Strom Thurmond, longest-serving senator in history, dies Online extra • A timeline of Thurmond's life • Complete coverage: A century of life, a lifetime of service Photo gallery • Images from a lifetime

"My father was resting comfortably without pain and in total peace," J. Strom Thurmond Jr. said in a statement released by Edgefield County Hospital.

Thurmond died at 9:45 p.m. at the hospital that had been his home since retiring from the Senate six months ago.

The younger Thurmond, the U.S. Attorney for South Carolina, thanked the hospital for its care of his father. He also thanked his father's friends for sustaining him during his last months.

Funeral arrangements were not announced. Thurmond said they would be announced by state Sen. John Courson.

President Bush offered condolences to the Thurmond family in a statement released early today. The statement said it was too early for Bush to say what memorial service the president would attend.

"Strom served the people of South Carolina with distinction for decades. He earned the respect of Democrats and Republicans alike, and he will be missed," the president said in the statement.

"Those who knew him know he changed with the times," said U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Thurmond's successor.

"He was the go-to guy. If the government was treating you unfairly, you'd get on the phone and call Sen. Thurmond. He would go to bat for you," Graham said on the Senate floor late Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, stopped debate of a Medicare prescription drug bill to announce to his colleagues that Thurmond was dead. Frist said Thurmond's life was "unmatched in public service."

Thurmond's 48 years in the Senate ended in January, the longest tenure of any U.S. senator. He also was the oldest person to serve in the Senate, having turned 100 in December.

U.S. Sen. Ernest Hollings, South Carolina's senior senator, offered his "heartfelt condolences" to Thurmond's wife, Nancy, and the three surviving Thurmond children.

"My friend and colleague of 36 years here in the Senate is gone, and a giant oak in the forest of public service has fallen," Hollings said.

"Even though we ended up on other sides of the aisle, there was never any doubt about the interest of South Carolina," Hollings said.

Hollings said he and Thurmond had an agreement on the appointments of judges.

"We agreed when his President was in from his particular party, then he had the appointment," Hollings said. "But we always — he always — asked me about it and of course I in turn asked him about it and we checked with each other."

"South Carolina lost its most illustrious citizen," Courson said. "The Palmetto State will never again look upon a statesman of his stature."

"I didn't expect to have to do this this evening," Courson added in a sorrowful voice.

U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of South Carolina said the state lost a "dear friend and a true patriot."

"Sen. Thurmond will always be a giant in South Carolina," DeMint said. "All who come after him will have the benefit of standing on his shoulders."

House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, to whom Thurmond offered a federal judgeship last year, said Thurmond had been a good friend and close ally to his family for many years.

"It's an irreplaceable loss for South Carolina. He touched more lives than any other South Carolinian in my opinion. He is the greatest statesman this state has ever produced. There will never be anyone else like him. He helped more people for a longer period of time than anybody to ever come out of South Carolina," Wilkins said.

Wilkins called him his mentor.

Wilkins' brother William, current chief judge of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, worked for Thurmond early in his career, the speaker said.

"In 1972, I was chairman of his Greenville County campaign and my brother ran his race. He came to our home, we'd go to Sunday dinner together. Strom Thurmond, once he met you, he was always your friend," said David Wilkins, who was statewide chairman of Thurmond's final race for the U.S. Senate in 1996.

Robert Parker, 29, of Anderson who was in downtown Greenville Thursday evening said, "For my lifetime, he pretty much defined the history of the state," he said.

Parker, a Clemson graduate, said Thurmond supported the state colleges.

Becki Martin, 27, of Pickens who was also downtown, "I think it's a tremendous loss," she said. "It's sad."

Darrin Turner, 34, of Easley, walking on Main Street in downtown Greenville, said he met Thurmond three times, including once as a 10-year-old during a tour in Washington.

"I think he accomplished a lot," he said. "I thought a lot of him as a politician and a person."

He said he thought he did a good job of moderating his views about race as he got older.

Willie Campbell, 50, of Greenville, waiting to pick up his wife from a trip to the grocery on East North Street, said, "He may not be the last of the good old boys. But he was the head of the good old boys."

Campbell said Thurmond's death will "mean a lot" to a lot of people.

"I'll miss him but not sorrowfully," Campbell said.

Gov. Mark Sanford issued a statement describing Thurmond as "a Colossus in life."

"In South Carolina there are leaders and then there was Strom," said Sanford.

Sanford said the volume and weight of Thurmond's accomplishments will remain a living memorial.

"Sen. Strom Thurmond was ... a man whose impact on this state and this country will continue to be seen and felt far beyond the decades of service he gave us," Sanford said. "In every corner of this state and spread throughout this nation, the number of lives he touched simply cannot be measured."

Graham said, "When you think about Sen. Thurmond, you can't help but think about him with a smile on your face. Your friend, my friend, is gone, but he'll never be forgotten. Well done, Sen. Thurmond."

Andy Paras, E. Richard Walton, Raju Chebium and Gannett News Service contributed to this report.