(Creative Commons)

President Barack Obama spoke about the incredible life of George McGovern, saying, “He dedicated his life to serving the country he loved…This hero of war became a champion for peace. And after his career in Congress, he became a leading voice in the fight against hunger.”

George Stanley McGovern was born in the small town of Avon, South Dakota in 1922. While attending Dakota Wesleyan University, McGovern volunteered in the Air Force as a fighter pilot. His decision came soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and his actions in World War II won him the Distinguished Flying Cross.  

After the War, McGovern returned to Dakota Wesleyan University, this time as a professor of political science and history. In 1956, he was elected to congress, and served a second term in 1958. In 1960, President Robert F. Kennedy appointed him the first director of the United States Food for Peace Program, which sends U.S. food and goods to areas of poverty throughout the world. McGovern then went on to play an instrumental role in the founding of the World Food Program.

McGovern won a seat in the United States Senate in 1962, and was re-elected in 1968 and 1974. During his early years in the Senate, he became known for his stance against the United State’s growing involvement in Vietnam, calling it a “damnable war.” His anti-war sentiment attracted a passionate following of young idealists, and he ran on for the United States presidency in 1972. Unfortunately, he lost the election to Richard Nixon.

After losing the election, Senator McGovern returned to the Senate and focused his efforts on raising awareness and advocacy about world hunger. Between 1969-1977, McGovern served as the sole chair of the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs.

After his career in the Senate, McGovern spent his time teaching at a number of prestigious universities. Meanwhile, he continued to fight world hunger. President Clinton named McGovern the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture, and in 2000, he awarded McGovern with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. McGovern then went on to become the first UN Global Ambassador on World Hunger in 2001.

McGovern spent his later years working with Republican Senator Bob Dole on the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. The aim of this program was to help give poverty-stricken children nation- and worldwide the nutritional foundation needed to live a successful and healthy life. In 2006 he spoke about his goal, remarking, “I want to live long enough to see all of the 300 million school-age kids around the world who are not being fed be given a good nutritional lunch every day." His work on this program won him and Dole the 2008 World Food Prize.

Dole spoke about McGovern’s death: “His influence in fighting hunger extended far and wide, and our world is a better place because of his generous spirit.” 

George McGovern is survived by his daughters Ann, Susan and Mary, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren.

Reach Contributor Lugene El-Harazi here.