The man who served as Iowa’s 38th Governor has died. Robert D. Ray died Sunday at the age of 89, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease, according to a statement released by his former Chief of Staff. Ray passed away at a retirement community.

Ray was first elected as Iowa’s governor in 1968, and then served a total of 14 years. He later served as CEO of two insurance firms, one in Cedar Rapids and the other in Des Moines. Then, in the 1990’s, Ray served as the acting mayor of Des Moines and then president of Drake University.

During Ray’s tenure as governor, he expanded funding for k-12 education, led the creation of a merged Department of Transportation, and eliminated the sales tax on food and drugs. He also established the Iowa Energy Policy Council and then-Department of Environmental Quality, both two concepts that were ahead of their time nationally.

Ray will also be known for issuing Executive Orders advancing civil right. He established other big committees and groups while serving as Iowa’s governor, including the Governor’s Economy Committee, a Taste Force on Government Ethics, and the Science Advisory Council.

The funeral service for Gov. Ray is pending, and will be announced shortly.

Gov. Kim Reynolds issued the following statement Sunday on the passing of former Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray: “Governor Ray’s legacy lives on in the millions of people that he impacted as a tremendous statesman for Iowa and our nation. His civility, courage and common-sense governing set a high standard for those who followed. 

“May our prayers and thoughts bring peace to First Lady Billie Ray, her daughters and family at this time.”