Former Sen. James McClure, who served as the Senate Republican Conference chairman in the early 1980s, died Saturday at age 86, the Associated Press reported Sunday.

The Idaho Republican served in the House from 1967 until 1973, when he joined the Senate. He retired in 1991 and became a lobbyist and mining consultant. 

McClure was chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee from 1981 to 1986 and Senate Republican Conference chairman from 1981 to 1985.

His family told the AP that he died of complications from a series of strokes.