GEOFF BENNETT: And now we remember Jay Rockefeller, the former West Virginia governor and longtime U.S.

senator, who devoted more than half-a-century to public service.

Born into one of America's wealthiest and most prominent families, Rockefeller forged his own path in politics, becoming a leading voice on health care, education, and the needs of working families.

AMNA NAWAZ: Across five terms in the Senate, he earned a reputation for putting the interests of his constituents ahead of partisan politics.

He was also the husband of Sharon Rockefeller, president and CEO of WETA, the public television station that produces the "PBS News Hour."

Lisa Desjardins looks back now at Senator Rockefeller's life and impact.

I love the Senate.

FMR.

SEN.

JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV): I love the intensity of the work, the gravity of the issues.

I love fighting for West Virginia here.

LISA DESJARDINS: A son of one of the country's wealthiest families... MAN: Senator Rockefeller.

LISA DESJARDINS: ... John D. Rockefeller IV, known As jay, dedicated his career to one of the nation's poorest states.

Rockefeller was born in New York in 1937, a month after the death of his great grandfather of the same name, who co-founded the Standard Oil Company.

His great-grandson charted a maverick path.

His early jobs were at the Peace Corps' offices in Washington, but Rockefeller wanted a more hands-on position tackling poverty.

That drive took him to rural Emmons, West Virginia, where he worked to improve the lives of young people in the community.

From there, Rockefeller quickly decided to enter politics.

He switched from Republican to Democrat, breaking from his family's longstanding affiliation with the Republican Party.

FMR.

SEN.

JAY ROCKEFELLER: Since 1960, I have really felt myself to be a Democrat, although I realized that public image would probably be different.

LISA DESJARDINS: And in 1966, he won a seat in the state's House of delegates.

In 1968, following the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, Rockefeller's uncle, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, offered him the then vacant Senate seat if he would become a Republican again.

Rockefeller said no.

Over the next decade, he instead rose up the West Virginia political ladder.

He also met and married his wife, Sharon Percy.

Their wedding was featured on the cover of "LIFE" magazine.

FMR.

SEN.

JAY ROCKEFELLER: I run for governor.

LISA DESJARDINS: The '70s brought one setback, a defeat for governor in 1972, and then a comeback in 1976.

FMR.

SEN.

JAY ROCKEFELLER: Today, we leave behind the defeatism of the past.

Starting here, starting now, you and I together step out into the rising sun of a new day for West Virginia.

LISA DESJARDINS: His time as governor saw many challenges, from natural disasters to strikes and economic downturn.

FMR.

SEN.

JAY ROCKEFELLER: I have a tremendous sense of what our future can be and how I can help as your United States senator.

LISA DESJARDINS: In 1985, Rockefeller moved on to the U.S.

Senate, where he would represent West Virginia for 30 years.

His largest impact was on health care.

FMR.

SEN.

JAY ROCKEFELLER: Our problem is that we treat potential solutions in health care on like a short-term basis.

LISA DESJARDINS: Rockefeller fought to keep and expand Medicare and Medicaid.

And he authored the Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP, which still provides low-cost health coverage to millions of children annually.

Rockefeller also created a bill securing lifetime benefits for retired coal miners, often referred to as the Rockefeller Coal Act.

FMR.

SEN.

JAY ROCKEFELLER: Saddam's existing biological and chemical weapons capabilities pose real threats to America today.

LISA DESJARDINS: Senator Rockefeller voted to authorize the invasion of Iraq.

He later started an investigation into the evidence for the war.

FMR.

SEN.

JAY ROCKEFELLER: We haven't found any weapons of mass destruction.

The al-Qaida/Iraq connection has not been found to be very real.

LISA DESJARDINS: Then, in 2013, the West Virginia senator announced his retirement.

FMR.

SEN.

JAY ROCKEFELLER: I will miss the Senate.

LISA DESJARDINS: He addressed the chamber for the last time on December 4, 2014.

FMR.

SEN.

JAY ROCKEFELLER: To West Virginia, thank you for placing your faith in me, I know it was hard at first, and giving me the greatest reward, the chance to fight for meaningful and lasting opportunity for those who are too often forgotten, but absolutely deserve the best.

LISA DESJARDINS: He was committed to philanthropy, along with his wife.

They founded the Blanchette Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute for Alzheimer's Research, dedicated to his mother, who lived with the disease.

Rockefeller leaves behind his wife, Sharon, four children and his grandchildren.

He was 89 years old.