Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester Democrat and Republican, a Lieutenant Governor, and Supreme Court Cheif Justice has died.

Rochester Mayor Kim Norton, and Rochester State Senator David Senjem submitted posts on social media Saturday evening concerning the passing of retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Sandy Keith. The Minnesota Legislature website indicates he died on Friday. The Rochester native was just over a month shy of his 92nd birthday.

The Minnesota Legislature website says Alexander "Sandy" Keith was born on November 22, 1928, in Rochester. He served as a member of the US Marine Corps during the Korean War after graduating from Yale Law School in 1953 and later was hired by the Mayo Clinic as an attorney

Keith represented Rochester in the Minnesota Senate from 1958 until he was elected to serve as Minnesota's lieutenant governor in 1962. He was a candidate for Minnesota Governor in 1966 but did not receive the Democratic Party nomination.

Keith was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court by Governor Rudy Perpich in 1989. He then served as the Chief justice from 1990 until 1998.

Following his retirement from the Supreme Court, Keith became heavily involved in community efforts in Rochester and led the initiative that resulted in the creation of the Rochester Downtown Alliance in 2005. He served as the executive director of the organization for five years.

The RDA, which is best known for creating and hosting the popular "Thursdays Downtown" events, established the Sandy Keith Award in 2017 to honor individuals who have made a notable impact on downtown Rochester. Keith was the first recipient of the honor.

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