Former Sen. Conrad Burns remembered as influential lawmaker

(AP) — Three-term Montana U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns was remembered Friday as an influential lawmaker skilled at connecting with people but unable to shake a penchant for stirring public controversy with politically incorrect comments.

First and foremost, said daughter Keely Godwin, Burns was interested in people.

In 1988, at the age of 53 and after serving just two years as a Yellowstone County commissioner, Burns turned his people skills to statewide politics, defeating two-term U.S. Sen. John Melcher in a close election.

Burns delivered many millions of federal dollars for the state's agriculture industry, higher education institutions and military installations, Mackay said.

By his third term, Burns faced growing criticism for getting too close to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, drawing an investigation that ended two years after he left office.