Oregon State Sen. Alan Bates, a physician from Medford, died Friday.
Senate President Peter Courtney confirmed his death Saturday. He said that Bates reportedly died while fishing with his son on the Rogue River.
Courtney said he had only scant information about his death and declined to comment on whether Bates, 71, had major health problems.
Courtney said he was informed of the Democratic lawmaker’s death in a late Friday night call from Gov. Kate Brown.
"Alan was a close friend, a statesman, and a doctor who was deeply committed to ensuring that every Oregonian had access to health care. He left an indelible impression on Oregon, and I will miss him forever," said Gov. Kate Brown in a statement Saturday.
Bates had served in the Senate since 2005 and was in the House for four years before that. He was an osteopathic physician who frequently came to the aid of people with health emergencies in the Capitol.
Sen. Alan Olsen, a Republican from Canby, credits Bates with saving his life after coming to his aid after he had a heart attack in the Capitol in 2015.
“As long as we had Alan with us, we were OK,” Courtney said. “I can’t tell you how many times we’d say, ‘Where’s the doc?’”
Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect where State Sen. Alan Bates most recently resided.
Copyright 2016 Oregon Public Broadcasting
