Joe Coors Jr., the eldest son of the fourth generation of the Coors brewing family and a one-time candidate for Rep. Ed Perlmutter’s congressional seat, has died. He was 74.

On the occasion of his passing, this long profile from then-Denver Post political reporter Lynn Bartels is worth a read.

Joe Coors Jr. was the first great-grandson of brewery founder Adolph Coors but rather than take the reigns of the family business, he spent years in exile because he married before finishing college. He was cut off financially for violating a family rule.

“We didn’t care. We were in love,” Gail Coors told Bartels.

He eventually was allowed to return and became the head of Coors’ technical ceramics division.

He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2012 against Perlmutter.

“Joe Coors was a man of faith and conviction who was a force in our state and in the Colorado Republican Party,” Colorado Republican Chairman Steve House said in a press release. “Above all Joe was a compassionate man of character and a great American who cared deeply about our communities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Gail and the entire Coors family.”

Rep. Mike Coffman, posted on Facebook that he was “honored to call Joe a friend.”

“Most of all, I will miss his warm personality, his generosity, and his immense contributions to our state,” he wrote. “My thoughts and prayers go out to Gail and the entire Coors family. Today, Colorado lost one of the good guys.”