On the eve of the 2012 Vice Presidential debate, we say our goodbyes to a very loyal Florida congressman, Sam Gibbons, who passed away yesterday (October 10th, 2012).

Prior to his involvement with politics, Gibbons joined the U.S. Army in 1941, where he became Second Lieutenant, and was involved with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division on D. Day.

In 1958, Gibbons became involved with the Florida House of Representatives in the Democratic party until 1962, and then moved up to the United States House of Representatives by electoral vote; however, in 1996, Gibbons decided not to run for an 18th term, and then retired after never being defeated in the 40+ years he was in office.

Prior to retiring from the heavy Florida political scene, Gibbons also served on the House Ways and Means Committee, the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. On this committee, Gibbons served as acting chairman until the Democrats lost control of the house in 1995.

On October 10th, 2012, Sam Gibbons died at the age of 92. The cause of Gibbons’ death has not yet been released.