Grijalva spent half a century in public service and represented Arizona in Congress for more than two decades.

Grijalva, the son of a Mexican immigrant who rose to the halls of Congress in a public-service career that stretched more than 40 years, has died.

U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and a slew of members of Congress were among those paying tribute to Arizona Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva on Thursday after the announcement of his death at age 77.