West Virginia's longest-serving governor, Arch A. Moore Jr. died Jan. 7 in Charleston at age 91 just one day after his daughter, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., was sworn into office.

The man with a reputation throughout the Mountain State for always recalling names, occupations and family details with incredible accuracy died after battling heart trouble and dementia.

Moore, a Marshall County native, launched his life in politics at age 28 by winning his uncle's former seat in the House of Delegates. He was married to the late Shelley Riley Moore for 65 years. She died in September 2014 at age 88. The Moores were parents toShelley Moore Capito, Lucy Moore Durbin and Arch III.Shelley Moore Capito's office issued a statement just before 8:30 p.m., saying all three children were "deeply saddened to share the news of their father's passing this evening in Charleston ... with his family by his side."

To call our father a source of inspiration would be an understatement. He was -- and will continue to be -- the force that drives us and our families each and every day. Dad loved the state of West Virginia as if it were a member of our family. Serving West Virginians was at the core of his very being and he cherished every moment of it. We will miss his warm embraces, beautiful smile, sky blue eyes and words of encouragement. We are deeply saddened to say goodbye to our loving father, but we take solace in the knowledge that he is at home with the Lord, and reunited with our beloved mother in Heaven.

Moore attended Lafayette College and West Virginia University, where he met his wife during a blind double date. Moore worked at his family's law firm in Moundsville and was an Army combat sergeant in WWII. He earned a bronze star and a Purple Heart.

He was defeated in 1954 when he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, but was elected to Congress in 1956 and stayed there until he was sent to the governor's mansion. He was elected governor in 1968, 1972 and 1984.

Moore benefited from the 1968 Modern Budget Amendment, which gave him more budgetary powers than any previous governor. During his tenure, the Department of Highways was established and the modern interstate system was constructed. The Board of Regents also was created to manage state colleges and universities while Moore was Governor, and public kindergarten was developed. During Moore's first term, black lung was officially designated as a disease, and Moore became involved in labor disputes, firing road maintenance workers and transit workers who were on strike.He also helped negotiate an end to a national coal strike and a riot with hostages at the former West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville. Moore was governor in 1972 when the Buffalo Creek dam broke, killing 125 people and destroying the homes of 4,000 more. New state medical schools were established in Lewisburg and at Marshall University during his second term as governor, along with the Culture Center at the State Capitol Complex.

Moore and his campaign manager were indicted for extortion in 1975, making Moore the first seated governor to officially be charged with a crime. Both men were found not guilty. Moore left office and established private law practices in Charleston, Moundsville and Washington, D.C. He ran for U.S. Senate in 1978 and was defeated. He was defeated in his 1980 run for governor, but was successful in his 1984 run.

During his third term, Moore expanded corporate tax credits to attract business. He was defeated in 1988 by Democrat Gov. Gaston Caperton, and in 1990 Moore was convicted of mail fraud. He served two years in federal prison, paid a fine and his license to practice law was suspended, something he fought vehemently for several years to have reinstated.

According to Arch: The Life of Governor Arch A. Moore, Jr., the book by Brad Crouser, Moore never used a signature stamp or a machine throughout his entire career.

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Former WV Gov. Arch Moore dies at age 91