Harold Simmons, a billionaire philanthropist and major Republican donor from Texas died Saturday at 82.
Simmons died Saturday night at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, The Dallas Morning News reported on Sunday.
Simmons, who had been ranked as the 40th of wealthiest of the 400 richest Americans by Forbes, was a major donor to a number of Republican causes. Notably he gave $2 million to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the group that ran aggressive attack ads against then-Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) during his 2004 presidential campaign.
Notably Simmons gave money to causes opposed by conservatives. He donated thousands to both public broadcasting and Planned Parenthood.
