Former Missouri Governor and Senator Kit Bond Dies at Age 86

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Former U.S. Senator and Missouri Governor Christopher S. “Kit” Bond died Tuesday in St. Louis at the age of 86. Governor Mike Kehoe announced his passing in a release from his office.

Kehoe described Bond as a “skilled statesman, public servant, and a man who truly loved Missouri.” He added, “I am blessed to have known Kit and honored to call him a friend and a mentor.”

Bond served two non-consecutive terms as Missouri’s governor from 1973 to 1977 and from 1981 to 1985. He held a U.S. Senate seat from 1986 until his retirement in 2011. Kehoe highlighted Bond’s dedication, saying, “Whenever he was thanked for his service, Kit’s response was always, ‘Serving the people of Missouri was the honor of my life.'”

Bond was born in St. Louis and grew up in Mexico, Missouri. He was Missouri’s first Republican senator in 40 years and advocated for various causes, particularly in education and infrastructure.

Governor Kehoe ordered U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff starting Tuesday and continuing until the day of Bond’s funeral. He expressed condolences for Bond’s family, including his wife Linda and son Sam.

The details of funeral arrangements are still pending as the state mourns the loss of a prominent political figure.