- Jay Rockefeller, the last member of his family's political dynasty - and the only Democrat - who served as West Virginia's governor and later a longtime U.S. senator, has died.

Rockefeller died Thursday night at his home in Washington, said Mary Stewart, vice president for external affairs at WETA, the public broadcasting station where Rockefeller's wife, Sharon, serves as president and CEO.

Rockefeller came from one of the nation's richest families to spend a half century in public service in one of the poorest states.