U.S. Senator and Bothell resident Patty Murray released the following statement after the death of Tom Foley, the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from Spokane.

“When I was first elected to Congress, Tom was serving as Speaker of the House, and I will never forget the way he welcomed me to ‘the other Washington,’ and the incredible example he set as a tireless public servant for our state.

“Tom spent his life serving his state and his country, and his legacy is felt not only in Eastern Washington, but around the world.  From his work to build new roads, protect public lands, and bring federal resources to Spokane, to his career as a statesman overseas, Tom touched the lives of everyone he encountered, whether it was a wheat farmer in Washington or a foreign dignitary in Japan.

“He will be missed by me and by all those who knew him. My thoughts are with his wife, Heather, and all of his family and loved ones today.”