Longtime Republican state senator, and former mayor of Urbana, Stanley B. Weaver died Tuesday night in his home at the age of 78.

Weaver was elected mayor of Urbana three times, beginning in 1956; he also served one term as state representative and 10 terms as state senator. He retired in December of 2001.

University spokeswoman Lex Tate said Weaver was deeply loved by the University and will be sorely missed. She said Weaver was often considered the "senator of the University" because he made great things happen for the campus.

"He was modest, unassuming, quiet, never self-promoting or boastful," Tate said. "The University has lost a great friend."

Urbana Mayor Tod Satterthwaite said the former mayor was a public servant who served this area as an extremely effective legislator and was able to bring a lot of issues to Springfield on behalf of the Champaign-Urbana community.

"I've been mayor for 10 years and he was senator for the vast majority of that time," Satterthwaite said. "I had a good working relationship with him."

Champaign County Clerk Mark Shelden, said Weaver was a great man who did a lot for the community.

"He was somebody who I talked to often about political issues and Champaign County issues" Shelden said. "He always took an active interest in my office and was real receptive for things I was doing here."

Shelden said he had known Weaver since he came to Champaign about 18 years ago. He said he will miss the history that Weaver was able to provide above all else.

"You could sit down with Stan and talk about an issue concerning local government and he could talk about the issues and give you their history for the past five decades. That's going to be a big thing that we'll miss, all the history."

Jim Nowlan, a visiting professor of political science at the University, worked with Weaver in the Illinois House of Representatives when Nowlan served from 1968 to 1972.

"He was always a gentleman, quiet but thoughtful, devoted to the University of Illinois and while he was savvy politically, he was a man of real integrity," Nowlan said.

During his career, Weaver helped bring an estimated $1.1 billion worth of construction projects to the University since 1970.

In October he was recognized by the University with the creation of the Stanley B. Weaver Scholarship.

"It was a complete surprise to him," Tate said. "He didn't know we were going to give him a scholarship."

The University will now name six students as Stanley B. Weaver scholars beginning in the fall. Recipients will receive awards of $2,500, which they will be able to carry throughout their four-year undergraduate career, Tate said.

"I am honored by the University's establishment of these scholarships," Weaver told the University after its announcement. "While I am not sure I am deserving of this honor, I am sure there is no shortage of students who will benefit from them — and that makes me very happy."

Weaver was born in Harrisburg, Ill., on May 23, 1925. He attended Urbana schools and played football at Urbana High School, where he graduated in 1943. He attended Michigan State, the University of Illinois, and graduated from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science.

Weaver served in the Army Air Force in the Pacific during World War II, earning five battle stars.

Visitation will be held on Friday Nov. 14 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 602 W. Green St., Urbana. It is open to the public.