ATLANTA – A longtime north Georgia lawmaker who was one of the state’s most powerful legislators has died of stomach cancer.

As chairman of the House Rules Committee, Meadows was a powerful force at the statehouse whose support was needed for a bill to advance through the legislative process.

“John was outwardly fierce and courageous but he was, at the same time, one of the kindest and most generous souls you have ever met,” House Speaker David Ralston said in a statement. “There aren’t words to describe the magnitude of this loss for our House of Representatives or the State of Georgia, and my heart is simply broken under the weight of this sad news.”

News of his death spread just as state lawmakers began to reconvene in Atlanta for a special session focused on adding emergency disaster funding to the budget after Hurricane Michael struck southwest Georgia a month ago.

Meadows, who was elected to the House in 2004, represented Gordon and Murray counties. He was also a former mayor of Calhoun and once served on the Calhoun City Council. He served as a U.S. Marine.

An insurance salesman, Meadows was married with two grown children and was also a grandfather.