The inspiration for the establishment of WSU’s Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service, died Friday, Oct. 18 at the age of 84

“In terms of thinking about his legacy in the state of Washington, he was elected as the highest office of any Washingtonian in history as the Speaker of the House,” Cornell Clayton, WSU director of the Foley Institute, said.

Thomas Stephen Foley served the state of Washington and nation for more than 30 years.

His political career began with his 1964 election to Washington’s fifth congressional seat and culminated with his election as U.S. Speaker of the House in 1989, which he held until 1995.

Foley had a significant impact on several air force bases, the design of the Spokane city waterfront and the WSU campus, Clayton said.

“His overall impact in Washington will be felt for a long time,” he said.

The Foley Institute at WSU was founded to honor Foley’s service to the state and nation, as well as to foster ideals of civic education and public service in a non-partisan way.

“In terms of national politics, he was the last of a different generation of politics in Washington,” Clayton said.

Foley had the ability to strive for compromise on tough issues regardless of political party, he said.

Foley’s style of leadership and ability to forge compromises, as well as form friendships with people across parties was valuable to congress and is a powerful ideal, Clayton said.

Foley was born in Spokane on March 6, 1929. He attended both Gonzaga University and the University of Washington.

Foley is survived by his wife, Heather Foley; and a sister, Maureen Latimer.