Colin Powell, the former Secretary of State and four-star general who rose to prominence during the Gulf and Iraq wars, has died of complications from multiple myeloma and COVID-19. Powell was vaccinated against the virus and was expected to receive a booster shot last week, but his health prevented the dose. Powell was 84.
President Joe Biden, who worked alongside Powell since 1987 when Powell became National Security Advisor during the Reagan Administration, issued a statement on Oct. 18.
“Jill and I are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and a patriot of unmatched honor and dignity, General Colin Powell,” the statement reads. “Over our many years working together – even in disagreement – Colin was always someone who gave you his best and treated you with respect.”
Biden once drag-raced his 1967 Stingray against Powell in his 2015 Corvette for an episode of the hit TV show Jay Leno’s Garage in 2016.
Powell served under four U.S. presidents before leaving public service in 2004. At the time, rumors swirled that Powell was forced out of the Secretary of State position by then, President George W. Bush.
In a statement from the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Bush expressed condolences to the Powell family.
“Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of Colin Powell,” the statement reads. “He was a great public servant, starting with his time as a soldier during Vietnam. He was highly respected at home and abroad. And most important, Colin was a family man and a friend. Laura and I send Alma and their children our sincere condolences as they remember the life of a great man.”
Powell was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1937 to Jamaican immigrant parents of African and Scottish ancestry. He joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps while in college and graduated with a commission as a second lieutenant in 1958.
Powell became the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1989. The post is the highest-ranking military position in the Department of Defense. He oversaw Operation Desert Storm during the Persian Gulf Wars and became a familiar face on national news broadcasts. In 1993, Powell resigned his position in frustration with Defense Secretary Leslie Aspin.
In 2001, President Bush appointed Powell to the role of Secretary of State. He assumed the role on Jan. 20, 2001. Less than nine months later, the 9/11 terrorist attacks increased the role Powell would play in the administration.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said Powell’s life was as historic as it was extraordinary.
“Heidi and I send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of General Colin Powell during this time of mourning,” Cruz said in a statement. “In his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and throughout his remarkable career, General Powell dedicated his life to the defense and security of our nation. We will always remember the life and contributions of such a distinguished public servant and a proud American soldier.”