When I began following politics really closely as a college student in the early 1980s, one of my favorite members of Congress was Rep. Don Edwards (D-CA) from the San Jose area. I didn't live in his district, but rather, I saw Edwards regularly champion progressive causes in floor speeches and other appearances on C-SPAN.
Every so often, I wonder what became of former politicians who were in their 60s or 70s during the 1980s (of course, I would expect few of them to be alive today). Rep. Edwards, it turns out, lived to 100. I know that from the articles today announcing his passing. This obituary, from Edwards' home-city newspaper, provides a good overview of his career:
http://www.mercurynews.com/...