George S. McGovern, the United States Senator and 1972 Democratic presidential candidate, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2012, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the age of 90. Born July 19, 1922, in Avon, South Dakota, George McGovern was a decorated World War II veteran, having flown 35 combat missions as a bomber pilot in the US Army Air Corps. After he graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University and Northwestern University, Senator McGovern began his political career with a successful bid for Congress in 1956. He then went on to win a series of Democratic senate primary elections in South Dakota, and later, he was appointed to the US Senate on November 30, 1962, after the tragic death of Senator Joe Bottum. McGovern served in the Senate for three terms until he was defeated in the 1980 election. Senator McGovern was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War and a passionate advocate for social justice, civil rights, and economic equality. He was also a champion of progressive-era programs and policies, including the Food for Peace Program and aspects of the war on poverty. During his 1972 presidential bid, McGovern ran against incumbent Richard Nixon and received 38% of the popular vote. He remained politically active in the years that followed, and, in the 2000s, McGovern served on the UN Commission on World Hunger, the US Commission on Comparative Miracles, and the National Commission on Service. McGovern's service to South Dakota, the nation, and the world will always be remembered. He is survived by his wife, four children, two stepchildren, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.