ST. LOUIS – Former Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator Christopher ‘Kit’ Bond is being remembered this week with memorial services in St. Louis and Jefferson City following his death at the age of 86.
Bond, who served Missourians for decades both in the statehouse and in Washington, D.C., passed away last week. A state memorial service will take place Tuesday in Jefferson City, where Bond will lie in state for 24 hours to allow the public to pay their respects.
The memorial service in Jefferson City will begin with a Missouri State Highway Patrol escort transporting Bond from St. Louis to the Capitol at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. The service at the Rotunda is scheduled to start at noon and will feature tributes from state leaders and musical honors from the 135th Army Band.
Governor Mike Kehoe has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff through Thursday, the day of Bond’s celebration of life in St. Louis. This gesture marks a final farewell to a man who had a major influence on Missouri policy for decades, from economic development to national security.
Bond’s political career began at age 29 when he entered public office as Assistant Attorney General. He lost the Missouri governor’s race as an incumbent in 1976 but won it back in 1980. Despite being a Republican, Bond is remembered by many Democrats for his integrity, respect, compassion, pride, and sense of humor.
As Missouri bids farewell to Kit Bond, his legacy as a dedicated public servant and policy shaper is honored through these memorial services. The state reflects on his contributions and the impact he had during his tenure.
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