Wyoming Sen. Thomas Dead at 74

Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo. gestures during a news conference in Oklahoma City, Okla. in this Jan. 18, 1996 file photo. Thomas, who has been battling leukemia, is listed in serious condition at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter, File) (J. Pat Carter - AP)

"Wyoming has lost a true statesman tonight," she said.

Gov. Freudenthal said he and his wife have known Thomas for many decades and his death "is a very big loss to the people of this state."

"He carried the values that we treasure in Wyoming to Washington and had many successes," Freudenthal said.

Wyoming Democratic Party Chairman John Millin issued a statement saying Thomas brought "dignity and thoughtfulness" to the political process.

After his first round of chemotherapy, Thomas returned to the Senate in December, a month earlier than expected. A few months later, he said he felt better than he had in a long time. But he returned to the hospital for a second round of chemotherapy in May.

"I'm resolved to do all I can to keep the leukemia in check," he said then. "I've been feeling very good over the last several months _ even returning to my regular morning run. But I've always known that further treatments are common and could periodically be part of this thing."

Thomas entered Congress in a special election in 1989 to replace Dick Cheney when the future vice president was named defense secretary by the first President Bush. Thomas won that race with 52 percent of the vote.

In 1994, Thomas won his first Senate race by beating former Gov. Mike Sullivan 59 percent to 39 percent. Thomas was re-elected by a wide margin in 2000, winning 74 percent of the vote against Democrat Mel Logan and Libertarian Margaret Dawson.

Thomas had previously served five years in the Wyoming Legislature.

He was born in Cody, Wyo., and was raised on a ranch. He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in agriculture, then served four years in the U.S. Marines.

He also was vice president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau and general manager of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, and four children.

According to Peggy Nighswonger, Wyoming's elections director, the governor has five days to appoint one of the party's three nominees once he receives the names. That person will serve until the next general election in 2008.