NAPLES, Fla., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- The man for whom the Louisville, Ky., beltway was named, former U.S. Rep. M.G. "Gene" Snyder has died at his home in Naples, Fla., at the age of 79.
The conservative Republican, who represented Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives for 11 terms and who got funding for the beltway, died with his wife, Patricia, his family and former U.S. attorney Joe Whittle by his side, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported.
Snyder "was a strong and effective Republican leader for a number of decades," said U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who entered politics in 1963 as an intern for Snyder.
"I always appreciated him giving me my first political opportunity," he added.
Snyder underwent heart surgery a few years ago and recently complained that he was not feeling well, said Whittle, who said he had lunch with the former representative a week ago.
"You got what you saw with Gene -- if he told you something, you didn't have to worry about him changing his mind," he told the Courier-Journal.
His second wife, Patricia, and his two children Chris and Ginger survive him.
