Arkansas Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller Dies

"This is a terribly sad day for me personally and for our entire family. Win Rockefeller was a warm human being who, like his father, committed his life to public service. He always had the best interests of the people of Arkansas at heart," he said.

Rockefeller entered politics in 1996, winning a special election for lieutenant governor to replace Huckabee, who became governor. Huckabee had ascended to the governor's office after Whitewater prosecutors obtained a conviction of then-Gov. Jim Guy Tucker in a fraud case.

Rockefeller subsequently won re-election twice, winning 67 percent of the vote in 1998 and 60 percent in 2002.

As lieutenant governor, Rockefeller presided over the Arkansas Senate and served as governor when Huckabee was out of the state. On his own, he also served as an economic cheerleader for the state, traveling at his own expense to seek foreign investments here.

Under the state's term-limits law, Rockefeller could not serve again as lieutenant governor. He announced his candidacy for governor last year, but withdrew last July 19 after being diagnosed with the blood disorder.

If Huckabee chooses to replace Rockefeller, he must call a special election. If the post isn't filled, Argue will serve as governor when Huckabee is out of state.

In 1997 Rockefeller created the Books in the Attic program, in which Boy Scouts collect used books to distribute to families. With two children with Down syndrome, Rockefeller and his second wife Lisenne also started what is now the Academy at Riverdale, a school for children with learning disabilities.

He also served on the Boy Scouts' national board of directors and was on the boards of the Arkansas Cancer Research Center and the Arkansas Arts Center Foundation.

Born Winthrop Paul Rockefeller on Sept. 17, 1948, in New York, he was the only child of the late Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller and Barbara "Bobo" Sears. An uncle was former vice president Nelson Rockefeller.

Survivors include his second wife, his mother, three daughters, five sons, a granddaughter, a step brother and a step sister.