Former Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who started out representing the state as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party, has died at the age of 92, as confirmed by The Colorado Sun.
In addition to serving in Congress for nearly two decades, Nighthorse Campbell was a chief of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, a celebrated jewelry designer and a member of the first U.S. Olympic judo team.
Nighthorse Campbell was first elected to the House in 1987, representing western Colorado, before being elected to the Senate in 1991. During his time in office, he played a key role in the creation of two of Colorado’s National Parks: Great Sand Dunes and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. He was also instrumental in the creation of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. and the preservation of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.
This is a developing story.
