Former Congressman and Kalamazoo City Commissioner Howard Wolpe has died. Wolpe served for 14 years in the U.S. House representing Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties. After deciding not to run for re-election in 1992, he served as a diplomat to African nations in both the Clinton and Obama administrations.

Wolpe was considered an expert in African politics and was a professor at Western Michigan University from 1967 to 72. He was named the university’s first distinguished professor in 1993. Wolpe’s political career also included three years on the Kalamazoo City Commission and four years in the Michigan House of Representatives. Wolpe was the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1994 and lost to Governor John Engler who won re-election that year.

Wolpe died at his home in Saugatuck on Tuesday, he was 71.

Read the Battle Creek Enquirer obituary of Howard Wolpe.