Former U.S. Senator Harry Reid passes away at 82

Dec 28, 2021, 6:46 PM | Updated: 9:53 pm

FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2016 file photo then Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., speaks during a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington. Reid said Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, he thinks President Donald Trump has no conscience and he'd like to see Utah Sen. Mitt Romney run against Trump in 2020 for the GOP nomination for president. The 79-year-old Democrat, who served as Senate Majority Leader, said in a radio interview with KNPR in Nevada that the partial government shutdown over Trump's push for a U.S.-Mexico border wall is an example of Trump's behavior.(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

BY MARK JONES

Former Digital Content Producer

CARSON CITY, Nev. — Harry Reid, a former United States Senator and Senate Majority Leader from Nevada passed away Tuesday, following a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a family statement.

Reid, 82, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was the highest elected church member.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer went to social media Tuesday to reflect on the passing of Reid.

Harry Reid was one of the most amazing individuals I’ve ever met

He never forgot where he came from and used those boxing instincts to fearlessly fight those who were hurting the poor & the middle class

He’s gone but will walk by the sides of many of us in the Senate every day pic.twitter.com/8T9PiD7vY4

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 29, 2021

Reid served Nevada in the U.S. Senate from 1987 to 2017. He lived to see the Las Vegas airport renamed after him, which was done earlier this month.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak also went to social media on Tuesday to share his thoughts on passing of the former Nevada Senator.

Senator Harry Reid was a mentor, father figure, and someone I always looked up to—There will never be another leader like him.

Kathy and I send our condolences to Landra and the Reid family.

Senator Reid will be deeply missed but the mark he left on our state will last forever. pic.twitter.com/FU08pACpo0

— Steve Sisolak (@SteveSisolak) December 29, 2021

Reid was born on Dec. 2, 1939 in a town called Searchlight, roughly 50 miles southeast of Henderson.

He went on to earn an associate of arts degree from the College of Southern Utah (now Southern Utah University) in 1959. He also graduated from Utah State in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. He also minored in economics at Utah State.