Editor's note: This story has been updated from a previous version.

Former Missouri Gov. and U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, whose hometown was Mexico, died today. He was 86.

Bond was senator for Missouri from 1987 to 2011. He served two terms as governor and was the youngest person to be Missouri governor. He held an undergraduate degree from Princeton and a law degree from the University of Virginia. 

"In 1972, I became Missouri's youngest governor," Bond said in a UPI story. "Good friends, I have no aspiration of becoming Missouri's oldest senator."

An Associated Press story stated that Bond's family told Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe's office that Bond died in St. Louis, but no cause was disclosed.

In a news release from his office, Kehoe signed a proclamation ordering U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff at all government buildings statewide beginning today until sunset on May 22.  

On May 20, a State Memorial Service honoring the life and legacy of Gov. Kit Bond will be held in the Rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol at noon. The public is invited to attend.

In a news release, Gov. Kehoe said Bond was a “skilled statesman, public servant, and a man who truly loved Missouri. I am blessed to have known Kit and honored to call him a friend and a mentor. Kit, always with his trademark smile and sense of humor, was a fierce advocate for Missouri throughout his accomplished 40-year career of public service. Kit kept Missouri’s interests at heart, both in office and out, making our state a better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

He added that Bond’s legacy was as “a ‘favorite son’ to his beloved State of Missouri lives on through all he achieved for his home state."

Matt Gowin, president of the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce, said in an email that Bond was a "true statesman for Missouri.  Having served as Missouri’s youngest elected Governor (at the age of 33) and as a longtime U.S. Senator, Kit demonstrated his love for, and commitment to, Missourians."

Gowin said Bond secured a great amount of federal funding for improvements (many involving roadways) within our state, improving the lives of our residents.  Kit’s decency, knowledge, politeness, and tact are lost on many of today’s politicians. Today, we remember Christopher Bond’s smile and his love for Missouri. May his family accept our sympathy and prayers."

Local people who knew Bond praised him and his work for Missouri and how they knew him as a “regular guy.’

Anne Ekern said she grew up in Mexico and “our families have known each other forever.” She said after college, she worked for Kit in D.C. for five years.

“ I also did some political work for him,” she said. “I worked for him again in his final year in office in 2010.”

She said Bond “was the best first boss ever.” She described Bond as a regular guy who happened to have two important jobs — governor of Missouri and U.S. Senator from Missouri. Bond would say representing Missourians was an honor and the best job, Ekern said, and she said he “truly enjoyed” meeting and helping individuals.

“He was a legislator’s legislator,” she said. “He was a workhorse-not a show horse — and proved over and over that working across aisles is the avenue to make Mexico, make Missouri and make the country a better place.”

She said the Highway 54 expansion to four lanes and airport expansion are two accomplishments that forever positively impacted Mexico.

“He will be missed,” she said.

Leonatti talked about his longtime friendship and said Bond possessed a “brilliant mind” but never he lost the ability to talk with people, demonstrating a common touch.

Bond was “always a Midwestern guy,” Leonatti said, reflecting on how much Bond treasured his home and roots. He never forgot a name, Leonatti said.

“You could sit down and talk to him just like you and I are talking now,” he said.

Larry Webber, another friend of Bond’s in Mexico, said he got to know Bond when Webber was on the city council the first time decades ago.

“I got to know him pretty well when he was senator,” he said, adding how much Bond liked visiting Mexico and would spend time with him. 

Bond was successful in getting money for Mexico, and “that’s how we got the airport we have, because he just kept pushing for more money for this and more money for that, and we’ve got a real fine airport. So that’s one of the things he did.” 

Webber said Bond liked to fish and hunt, work in his yard and enjoyed coming home to Mexico. 

Martin Keller, Handi-Shop’s manager, said Bond always supported the Handi-Shop and that the business has a proclamation from the Senate floor on the HandiShop’s 15th anniversary. Handi-Shop, Inc. is a “community-based organization dedicated to providing meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities in a safe, supportive, and productive environment, which allows each person to achieve his/her highest potential and become as self-sufficient as possible,” the organization said on its website.