Former Wyoming Republican senator Alan Simpson died on Friday at the age of 93 after decades of work in politics.

Simpson died surrounded by friends and family after “struggling to recover from a broken hip in December,” according to a statement from the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

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Simpson served in the Senate from 1979 until 1997, representing the Cowboy State, and as the Republican Whip in the upper chamber from 1985 until 1995.

His tenure in the Senate was marked by his reputation as a centrist in the Senate GOP conference and his key role in getting Republicans to coalesce around the party’s legislative agenda, according to the Associated Press.

“He was an uncommonly generous man,” Simpson’s brother, Pete Simpson, said in a statement on Friday. “And I mean generous in an absolutely unconditional way. Giving of his time, giving of his energy — and he did it in politics and he did it in the family, forever.”

Simpson served in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1965 until 1977. He was also on then-President Barack Obama’s bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform in 2010, which aimed to find solutions to reduce the federal government’s deficit.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), who holds Simpson’s former seat, expressed her condolences on X Friday.

“Today, our state and country mourn the passing of our dear Senator Alan Simpson. There was no stronger advocate for the needs, industries, and interests of Wyoming. I extend my deepest thoughts and prayers to Al’s family and friends, he will be missed dearly,” Lummis said.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) called Simpson one of Wyoming’s “most beloved and fiercest champions” in a statement mourning the late senator.

“Al Simpson is known for his devoted lifelong service and unparalleled sense of humor. Whether serving in the United States Army, the Wyoming House of Representatives, or the United States Senate, his commitment and contributions made a consequential difference. While others ran from tough issues, Al embraced the opportunity to solve them. He cherished every fight to do what he thought was right. He was a mentor and a dear friend,” Barrasso said, adding that Simpson’s “incredible legacy will influence generations to come.”

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Simpson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Joe Biden in 2022. At the time, Biden called Simpson “the real deal,” praising his bipartisanship and his humor.

“This is one of the finest men I’ve ever worked with,” Biden said. “At his core, he’s always believed in the common good and what’s best for the nation.  We didn’t agree on everything, although we agreed on a whole heck of a lot.”