Martin Olav Sabo, a founder of NCSL and its third president, 14-term congressman and ground-breaking leader in the Minnesota Legislature, died Sunday. He was 78.

"He was one of the small group of state legislators and staff who came together to create that National Conference of State Legislatures in 1974 and set the direction of NCSL to strengthen  and improve state legislatures, which it still follows today," said William T. Pound, executive director of NCSL.

"He strongly supported the bipartisan approach of NCSL and his career was devoted to a strong and equal legislative branch of government at all levels of our federal system. He was a consummate legislator who understood the need for civility, compromise and creativity in government."

Mr. Sabo conveyed a sense of civility during increasingly partisan times in Washington.

An editorial in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune said he might be called the father of the modern Minnesota Legislature:

"He became House speaker in 1973 at age 35, when he was already a six-term House veteran. As minority leader in 1971, he helped enact school and local government funding formulas that together are known as the Minnesota Miracle and endure to this day. As the House’s top official for five years, Sabo ushered in a series of sweeping changes that gave the Legislature its contemporary contour. On his watch, the Legislature met in annual sessions for the first time since the 19th century—a change approved by Minnesota voters in 1972. Legislators again took party labels, which they had dropped 60 years earlier."

Mr. Sabo was saluted during NCSL's 40th annual Legislative Summit in 2014 in Minneapolis where he "said the founders recognized a need to strengthen state legislatures and the value of exchanging ideas 'to learn how best to do our work.' He said the NCSL also became an important voice for state legislatures in the federal government."

Karl Kurtz, who retired as NCSL's longest-serving employee, recalled Mr. Sabo's role in the creation of NCSL.

"Martin played a crucial role in the merger of the three organizations—the National Legislative Conference, the National Conference of State Legislative Leaders and the National Society of State Legislators—that formed NCSL in 1975. As a negotiator, he was confident, knew what he wanted but was also self-effacing. Part of the agreement was that each of the sitting presidents of the three organizations would have a term as president of the new organization. Martin agreed to go third, a decision that pleased the other two presidents and smoothed the process," Kurtz said.

"He was an excellent listener. He used to say that he spent most of his time as speaker talking to people. He said that he learned more by listening than he did by reading. He advised people who wanted his attention to come talk to him—not send a memo. In my 42 years at NCSL I got to know thousands of legislators. Martin was easily in the top five of those I most respected and admired."

Funeral arrangements are pending.