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Former U.S. Representative Charlie Stenholm passed away at the age of 84 on Wednesday. According to reports, Stenholm passed away at his home in Granbury.

Stenholm was born in Stamford, Texas and was first elected the the U.S. House in 1979. Stenholm served for 13 terms representing the 17th Congressional District from 1979 to 2005. Stenholm was seen by many to be one of the last conservative Democrats to represent West Texas.

In 2002, Stenholm was ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee and worked with Chairman Larry Combest, a Republican who represented the neighboring 19th Congressional District, to pass the 2002 Farm Bill.

After redistricting in 2003, Stenholm chose to run in the redrawn 19th Congressional District against Republican Congressman Randy Neugebauer. He lost in the November 2004 election. After leaving Congress, Stenholm worked as a lobbyist focusing on food, drug, and agriculture interests.

Stenholm graduated from Texas Tech University with both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Agricultural Education and in 2018 he joined Tarleton State University as an adjunct professor teaching agriculture policy.

Congressman Jodey Arrington issued the following statement:

Today, Representative Jodey Arrington (TX-19) released the following statement on the passing of former Abilene Representative Charlie Stenholm.

“With his broad smile and West Texas humility, Charlie Stenholm did a lot of great things for the place and people he loved. Known simply as ‘Charlie,’ this cotton farmer from Stamford, deeply devoted to family and the land, typified the citizen legislator our founders envisioned. Anne and I deeply mourn his passing," said Rep. Arrington.

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