Jim Abourezk, a brash and outspoken attorney who served South Dakota in the U.S. Senate, died today on his 92nd birthday.
Abourezk was born on February 23, 1931 in Wood, South Dakota. Abourezk, a Democrat, served a single term in the U.S. House, representing the Second District, from 1971-73, and then a single term in the U.S. Senate from 1973-79. He did not seek a second term in 1978 and never again sought political office.
The sad news broke earlier this week that Abourezk has entered hospice care. I would highly recommend a nice tribute to Abourezk by Tom Lawrence of the South Dakota Standard, and an excellent obituary in The Dakota Scout by Jonathan Ellis. Abourezk, who was the first Arab-American to serve in the U.S. Senate, also received an obituary in The New York Times. Governor Kristi Noem has ordered that flags fly half-staff, statewide, on March 3, 2023, the day of Abourezk’s funeral.
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