1999. During the 1997 and 1999 sessions, he served as Majority Whip. During his time in the Montana State Legislature, Ohs sponsored the legislation that resulted in the purchase, by the state, of the Bovey properties in Virginia City and Nevada City, keeping the history and artifacts of Virginia and Nevada Cities accessible to future generations. Prior to his involvement in state politics, Ohs served 7 years on the Harrison, Montana school board (1978–1984). Running successfully for Lieutenant Governor in 2000 with gubernatorial candidate Judy Martz, Ohs was an active member of the administration, taking a leadership role is resolving complex or controversial issues facing the state including serving as chairman of the Governor's Drought Advisory Committee during drought years and chairing the K-12 Public School Renewal Commission working across party lines to solve the Montana public schools' funding problems. Ohs was best known for his role in peacefully ending the Montana Freeman standoff near Jordan, Montana. In 1996, asked for help by a former ranch hand whose daughter and granddaughter were inside, Ohs served as principal negotiator making 19 separate trips into the Freeman compound. His involvement earned him the 1998 The Louis E. Peters Memorial Service Award given by the FBI for public service. His efforts also served as a model for FBI handling of similar situations and Ohs traveled to Washington, D.C. to help the FBI develop negotiator training programs based on his experiences. Later years In 2002, Ohs was elected chairman of the National Lieutenant Governors Association. Following his four-year tenure as Lieutenant Governor, Ohs was elected chairman of the Montana Republican Party in 2005. Ohs chose not to seek the party post in 2007 due to his efforts to recover from surgery and chemotherapy for brain cancer. Ohs died of brain cancer on Sunday, November 25, 2007 at his home in Helena, Montana, aged 61. The Montana Law Enforcement Academy has dedicated a building to the late former Montana Lt. Gov. Karl Ohs. Personal life Starting in 1996, he owned and operated several small businesses in southwest Montana. Ohs had four children: Brad, Eric, Brian and Elizabeth. References External links Sen. Dennis Rehberg honors Karl Ohs on US Senate floor Montana Governor's Proclamation 1946 births 2007 deaths Deaths from brain cancer in the United States Lieutenant Governors of Montana Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives Deaths from cancer in Montana Neurological disease