Ike Skelton | Ex-congressman, 81

Ike Skelton, 81, a Democrat who built a reputation as a military expert and social conservative during 34 years representing western and central Missouri in the House, died Monday in Virginia.

Mr. Skelton died at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, surrounded by his wife, his sons and their families, and longtime colleague Russell Orban, who confirmed the death. The cause was not immediately released, but Orban said Mr. Skelton entered the hospital a week earlier with a bad cough.

A former prosecutor in his native Lexington, Mo., he joined the national Kansas City-based law firm of Husch Blackwell after his 2010 defeat in Missouri's Fourth District by Republican Vicky Hartzler, a state lawmaker who had strong tea party backing.

He won the first of 17 congressional terms in 1976 and was chairman of the Armed Services Committee at the time of his defeat.

An astute military historian, Mr. Skelton helped build up Missouri's two military installations.

Mr. Skelton was honored at West Point in 2012 with the Sylvanus Thayer Award, presented to "an outstanding citizen whose service and accomplishments in the national interests exemplify the Military Academy motto, 'Duty, Honor, Country.' " - AP