EDGAR BLAGOJEVICH

Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, left, and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, right, participate in opening ceremonies at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Ill., Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004. After years of construction and delay, the public finally gets access to the library, the new home to the state's collection of Lincoln materials and the first half of a state-of-the-art complex dedicated to shedding light on his life. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

 SETH PERLMAN

CHICAGO, Ill. (NBC Chicago) — Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar has died at the age of 79.

Edgar, who served two terms as Illinois’ governor in the 1990s, had announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year.

Multiple sources told NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern that Edgar had passed away Sunday, with tributes immediately pouring in for the former governor.

"I was lucky enough to consider him a friend and mentor and have found myself drawing from his words of wisdom on countless occasions," said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. "Now more than ever, we should channel that spirit and resolve to live as Governor Edgar did: with honesty, integrity, and an enduring respect for all."

"Jim Edgar was an amazing man and an incredible public servant. More importantly, he was a great friend and adviser to me," said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. "His leadership will be missed, his friendship even more so. My family and I send our deepest condolences to his family."

Prior to serving as governor, Edgar had served as a member of the Illinois House and was appointed Secretary of State by former Gov. Jim Thompson. During his tenure in office he had pushed for Illinois to adopt stricter laws against drunk driving and had advocated for the national drinking age to be set at 21, according to his website.

When Thompson opted not to run for reelection in 1990, Edgar announced his candidacy and after winning a contested primary defeated Democratic candidate Neil Hartigan to win the governorship.

"His legacy of common sense, bipartisan leadership will continue on through his many accomplishments here in Illinois," said Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran.

During his tenure as governor, Edgar pushed for caps on property taxes for Illinois homeowners and paid down billions in debt as he addressed significant budget deficits, according to his website.

Edgar chose not to run for reelection in the 1998 governor’s race, and has served on a wide variety of boards and in different charitable organizations, including as the president emeritus of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, according to his website.

Earlier this year, Edgar revealed that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and that he would continue to receive treatment in Arizona.

"Doctors at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have determined I have pancreatic cancer that has spread," he said, in part. "They and physicians at Mayo Clinic are coordinating on a treatment regimen that I am following initially in Arizona, where we spend the winter, and later in Springfield when we return. We do not underestimate this challenge, but we have confidence in the medical team helping us address it..."

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