Friends and colleagues from both sides of the aisle this week mourned the loss of seven-term Sen. James Rhoades (R-Schuylkill), who died last Saturday of injuries from an automobile accident.

"Jim's passing is a tremendous loss for Pennsylvania. He was a great person and a tremendous fighter for school children in the commonwealth. No one cared more about advancing education in Pennsylvania than Jim. He will be missed," said Gov. Rendell.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) issued this joint statement:

"Jim Rhoades was a remarkable man, and a true friend. It is impossible to properly express how much we will miss him personally, and how much the Senate of Pennsylvania will miss his presence.

"Jim was a one-of-a-kind senator. His down-to-earth approach to solving problems reflected his roots in Schuylkill County. His experience as a teacher and coach at Pottsville and Mahanoy City High Schools, and as the principal of Mahanoy Area Junior High School, permeated every decision he made as a senator.

"As the chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Jim was a statewide leader on education issues. He was a part of every major education initiative in recent history. Senator Rhoades’ legacy includes the Pennsylvania Safe Schools Act, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Accountability Act, and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.

"Jim’s hard work extended to other areas, as well. With his booming voice, he always spoke forcefully while fighting for his constituents. This session, he successfully pushed for an expansion of PACE and PACENET benefits. He was a leader on many issues impacting the economy and the lives of working Pennsylvanians.

"Without Sen. Rhoades, there will be a large void in the Senate of Pennsylvania. We extend our deep sympathy to Jim’s family and friends."

Sen. Rhoades was Majority Chair of the Senate Education Committee and a long-time member of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

While much of his work was on education issues, Sen. Rhoades also sponsored major reforms of Pennsylvania's coal mining laws that brought Pennsylvania into compliance with the federal Surface Mine Reclamation Act in 1984 (Act 181) and instituted a series of reforms in 1992 (Act 173) which offered incentives for remining abandoned mine lands which resulted in the reclamation of thousands of acres of mine-scared lands across the Commonwealth.

Legislation he initially sponsored created the Remining Environmental Enhancement Fund providing funding to mine operators to reclaim abandoned mines next to their own active mine operations, authorized government financed reclamation contracts that reclaimed abandoned mine lands at little or no cost to taxpayers, required the Department of Environmental Protection to designate areas suitable for remining and created reclamation bond credits for mine operators reclaiming abandoned mines.

Sen. Rhoades was also an advocate for the original Growing Greener Watershed Restoration Program and supported local watershed groups throughout his district that reclaimed mines and treated abandoned mine discharges.

He routinely sponsored resolutions designating May as Watershed Awareness Month as part of his efforts to draw attention to the great work being done by community-based watershed groups.

It was a tribute to his approach to issues, that both Republicans and Democrats praised his efforts. Here's a further sampling.

Pennsylvania State Education Association President James Testerman said, "Yesterday, Pennsylvania lost a true statesman and champion of public education. PSEA members are shocked and saddened to learn of Sen. James Rhoades' sudden passing. On behalf of all 187,000 PSEA members, our thoughts go out to his family, especially his wife.

"As the long-time chair of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Rhoades always kept the best interests not only of his constituents, but all of Pennsylvania's children at heart.

"Never one to back down from what he thought was right, Sen. Rhoades consistently stood up for the issues that mattered most to educators, students and Pennsylvanians. He leaves a legacy of strong public schools that will last for decades."

Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney said, "The Pennsylvania Democratic Party expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sen. Jim Rhoades on his recent passing.

“Sen. Rhoades served the residents of the 29th District with class and dignity. He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word who earned the respect and admiration from his colleagues on both sides of the political aisle.

“His temperament and approach to public service will be missed in the state Senate, his district and Pennsylvania."

Eugene W. Hickok, former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education, said of the tragic death of Sen. James Rhoades:"Words cannot express the shock and sadness I feel at the tragic death of one of Pennsylvania¹s true champions of education.

"Sen. Rhoades was a friend to every Pennsylvanian who cares about education. I was so very privileged to have worked with him and admired his commitment to making Pennsylvania a better place. I was fortunate to work with him on a number of significant pieces of education legislation, and I will forever remember how devoted he was to doing what is right for the kids of the Keystone State. My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Rhoades and the Senator's family. He will be greatly missed."

NewsClip: Friends Mourn Senator Killed In Accident

State Senator Killed In Car Crash

Rhoades Likely To Be On Ballot

State Senate Remembers Rhoades

Late Senator To Stay On Ballot, GOP Says

10/24/2008