Ted Stevens will be remembered as the man who helped Alaska move into the modern age, through judicious application of federal laws as well as financial help amounting to billions of dollars.  As decorated as Ted Stevens was, his career was brought to a screeching halt in 2008, following a corruption conviction which was later vacated.  At 86 years of age, the man who has survived a previous encounter with death during a place crash is unable to survive this one.  His death was confirmed by a former member of his Congressional staff, who would only say that his body was found Tuesday morning.

Of the nine people on the place, it is believed that five have been killed, including the former Senator. During his reign as the Senator from Alaska, Stevens gained notoriety for his prolific funneling of federal dollars to his home state.  Watchdog groups assert that Senator Stevens routinely receives more dollars per capita than any other state.  Many would have wanted to call him the King of Pork; unfortunately, that title had already been bestowed upon another geezer, the late Senator Robert Byrd.  Ted Stevens had to settle for the no less notorious title of Emperor of Earmarks.

Senator Stevens wasn’t always conservative red in his lawmaking philosophy, as evidenced by his support for Title IX legislation, support for public radio, support for a ban on smoking in federal properties and the de facto position of democrats, tougher fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.  Senator Stevens is survived by his second wife Catherine Chandler, his five children from his first marriage, a daughter from his second marriage, and eleven grandchildren.