Grijalva, who earned a sociology degree from the U of A in 1987, was a steadfast champion of the university’s land-grant mission and a testament to what it means to be a Wildcat for Life.

Longtime Tucson Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva, who inspired generations of environmental and inner-city activists in a political career that spanned more than a half-century, died Thursday morning.

Grijalva spent half a century in public service and represented Arizona in Congress for more than two decades.