Former Texas Republican Rep. William Archer Jr. died Saturday, July 4, at the age of 98.

Archer's death was announced by the Archer Center, which he established after leaving Congress.

Before serving in Congress, Archer was a captain in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives.

Archer was first elected to Congress in 1970, succeeding future President George H.W. Bush. He won every reelection with at least 80% of the vote while representing Houston's suburbs.

While in Congress, Archer established the "Archer Rule," under which no member of the Texas congressional delegation would speak ill of another.

"He championed respect and collaboration across party lines," the Archer Center wrote.  "He was widely revered in Washington for his integrity, civility, and fierce commitment to bipartisan cooperation."

Archer later served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He championed the 1997 Balanced Budget Act and helped enact sweeping welfare and healthcare reforms, as well as middle-class tax relief.

He was a champion of reining in government spending.

"We must stop measuring compassion by the amount of money the government spends," Archer said in 1995 upon becoming chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. "We will cut spending, we will cut taxes, we will revolutionize welfare to put America on a better track."

Archer is survived by his wife, Sharon; seven children; 19 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren, according to the New York Times.

His eldest son paid tribute to him.

"My dad would often tell me that while it was rewarding to pass major legislation, he felt his greatest accomplishment was in helping individual people," said William "Reyn" Archer III.

"He cared deeply for the power of one person achieving their best," Archer III said.