Former Congressman Charlie Wilson Passes Away in Lufkin

[sonias]

BOR 2/10/10
Former Congressman Charlie Wilson Passes Away in Lufkin

Charlie Wilson, the charismatic East Texas Democrat who represented Congressional District 2 for twenty-four years, died today at a Lufkin Hospital as reported by the Lufkin Daily News.

You'll recall that Wilson was the subject of a book and movie starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts entitled Charlie Wilson's War. This movie depicted the behind the scenes CIA Operative work that Wilson organized to help fund the Afghan Mujahideen resistance to the Soviet Union during the 1980's.

In 2008 I had the opportunity to meet former Congressman Wilson at the Texas Values in Action Coalition's Rayburn-Johnson dinner. Wilson had the packed ballroom of over 500 people rolling in laughter as he told tales of his East Texas upbringing, his first political campaign, and chided Democrats to stay focused and "declare war" against our political opponents.

My condolences to the Wilson family. May Congressman Charlie Wilson rest in peace. :cry:

Sonia

[texastoast]

1. ...

Oh for the day when Texas had people like Charlie to represent us. I miss those days when it was perceived that Texas and her people were not heartless bastards like that carpetbagging Bush bunch.

:cry:

[sonias]

4. "Charlie was perfect as a congressman"

Huffington Post 2/10/10
Charlie Wilson Dead: Texas Congressman Was Hero Of 'Charlie Wilson's War'

(snip)
"Charlie was perfect as a congressman, perfect as a state representative, perfect as a state senator. He was a perfect reflection of the people he represented. If there was anything wrong with Charlie, I never did know what it was," said Charles Schnabel Jr., who served for seven years as Wilson's chief of staff in Washington and worked with Wilson when he served in the Texas Senate.

Schnabel said he had just been with Wilson a few weeks ago for the dedication of the Charlie Wilson chair for Pakistan studies at the University of Texas, Austin, a $1 million endowment. He said Wilson had been doing "very good."

"He had the heart transplant in September 2007 and he recovered and he said quote, 'he was a poster boy for heart transplants.' He was doing very well. He was taken a whole lot of medicine," Schnabel said.

So sad.

[sonias]

2. Former Texas Rep. Charlie Wilson dies at 76

http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/former-texas-rep-charlie-wilson-dies-at-76-226402.html?cxntcid=breaking_news">AAS 2/10/10
Former Texas Rep. Charlie Wilson dies at 76

DALLAS — Charlie Wilson, the former U.S. congressman from Texas whose funding of Afghanistan's resistance to the Soviet Union was chronicled in the movie "Charlie Wilson's War," has died. He was 76.

Wilson died Wednesday at Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin after he started having difficulty breathing while attending a meeting in the eastern Texas town where he lived, said hospital spokeswoman Yana Ogletree. Wilson was pronounced dead on arrival, and the preliminary cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest, she said.

Wilson represented the 2nd district in east Texas in the U.S. House from 1973 to 1996 and was known as "Good Time Charlie" when he was in Washington.

Sonia

[sonias]

3. Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson dead at 76

Houston Chronicle 2/10/10
Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson dead at 76
(snip)
"Charlie loved this nation and had deep respect and gratitude for the men and women who defended her; he was a force for Veterans his entire career. Throughout his life, this was evident in his thoughts, words, and deeds," said Dr. Anthony Zollo, director of the VA outpatient clinic that bears Wilson's name. "The VA is a richer organization because of Mr. Wilson. He will be deeply missed."

Wilson is survived by his wife Barbara.

Sonia

[onestepforward]

5. RIP Congressman Wilson.

My condolences to his family and friends.

[derby378]

6. We'll miss you, Charlie

I also extend my condolences to the Wilson family.

[BenjaminFranklin]

7. He gave the keynote address at my college graduation

Charlie will be missed.