Former Vermont Sen. Stafford Dies at 93

U.S. Sen. Robert Stafford, R-Vt. is seen in Montpelier, Vt. in this Feb. 10, 1987 photo. Stafford, a staunch environmentalist and champion of education whose name is familiar to countless college students through a loan program named for him, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006. He was 93. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot) (Toby Talbot - AP)

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Former Sen. Robert Stafford, a staunch environmentalist and champion of education whose name is familiar to countless college students through a loan program named for him, died Saturday. He was 93.

Stafford, who had been in declining health, was surrounded by family at a Rutland nursing home when he died at 9:30 a.m., said Neal Houston, his former chief of staff.

Stafford served two years as governor, 11 years in the House and 17 in the Senate before retiring in early 1989.

As ranking Republican on the Senate's environment committee, Stafford repeatedly defended the Superfund program to clean up contaminated sites and shepherded bills combating acid rain and automobile pollution.

In 1988, Congress renamed the Federal Guaranteed Student Loan program the Robert T. Stafford Student Loan program. The low-interest loans are now known almost universally as Stafford loans to the millions who qualify for them each year.

According to the federal Education Department, about 14 million Stafford loans were given to postsecondary students in 2006.

"From the higher education finance program that now bears his name or his advocacy for clean air and water, Americans will continue to benefit greatly from his legacy of success," Gov. Jim Douglas said in ordering flags flown at half-staff.

Retiring Sen. James Jeffords, the independent who took over Stafford's seat in 1989, said Stafford was always willing to offer support.

"Whenever I had a problem when I got into Congress and all, I'd go to him for counsel," Jeffords said.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, described Stafford as a mentor who touched the lives of millions through his leadership. "And he gave the nation a lifelong lesson in civility and decency, in the finest tradition of his beloved Vermont," Leahy said in a news release.

Stafford, who once considered himself conservative, even hawkish, wasn't shy about bucking presidents of his own party. He led a successful effort to override President Reagan's veto of amendments that strengthened the Clean Water Act, and tangled with industry when he believed it was thwarting efforts to clean the environment.

"If you ever want a piece of paper saying you are a certified (S.O.B.), come to me,'" an auto industry executive once told him, according to a 1989 story in The Boston Globe.