Lea Fite, a state representative and owner of a chain of local grocery stores, died suddenly this morning of an apparent heart attack.

The news shocked friends and colleagues, many of whom were struck speechless. His death ends a 15-year career in local politics and 25 years at the head of a grocery store chain.

Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown said Fite died at his home in Jacksonville at 7:30 a.m., of an apparent heart attack. Brown said an autopsy would be conducted to verify the cause of death.

Before entering politics, Fite co-owned a chain of Food Outlet grocery stores with his business partner Mike Sanders. He and his wife, Judy, have four children: Laurie, Wes, Trae and Jerrod. As a state representative he served on the education policy, government operations and tourism and travel committees.

Fite was finishing his eighth year as a representative and had plans to run again, his friends said. Before that he had served four years as a county commissioner. According to public documents, 2009 marked Fite’s most successful year as a legislator. Six out of the seven bills he sponsored became law, including a bill that fixed a loophole that excluded women who are eligible for Medicaid from coverage of breast and cervical cancer.

Fite’s House district is the 40th, which sprawls from Calhoun County’s mountainous eastern border to the banks of the Coosa River in the west. It encompasses the small cities of Jacksonville and Piedmont and rural byways such as Ohatchee, Wellington and Nances Creek.

He first became involved in politics in 1994, when he challenged sitting U.S. Rep. Glen Browder for the Democratic nomination for Alabama’s Third District seat in the U.S. House.

Alabama House Speaker Seth Hammett praised Fite in an e-mail Monday, noting his good humor, patriotism and defense of young children from predators online.

“He was a good legislator and a good friend,” wrote Hammett, a fellow Democrat. “He will be missed.”

Sanders said the several Food Outlet stores employed around 180 people. Grocery stores were in Fite’s blood. His father and grandfather were both in the business, Sanders said.

Sanders said Fite was his best friend, closer than a brother.

State Rep. Barbara Boyd of Anniston, a fellow Democrat in the Legislature and former colleague on the County Commission, was distraught over the news. She said Fite was someone she always could depend on.

“I had a great respect and admiration for Mr. Fite and I will miss him dearly,” Boyd said.

Admiration for Fite crossed party lines. State Rep. Randy Wood of Anniston, a Republican, sometimes commuted with Fite to Montgomery. The news hit him just as hard.

“Lea was a very personable guy, a very great individual,” Wood said. “Everyone loved him. He had ways where you could disagree with him you didn’t make him mad. He was a down-home, friendly, loveable guy.”

State Sen. Del Marsh of Anniston, another Republican, called Fite a “very competent legislator.”

“Lea and I had a great relationship,” Marsh said. “I'm shocked and I didn't know Lea had any health issues. Right now, I'm still trying to deal with the shock of it all.”

Anniston Mayor Gene Robinson said the last time he saw Fite he seemed to be the “pillar of health.”

“Lea will be missed,” Robinson said. “He was a very prominent fighter for our county.”

Calhoun County Administrator Ken Joiner went to Fite’s home after he got the news this morning.

“Lea was very community-oriented and was extremely concerned about his constituents and how he handled their affairs and always interested in helping young people,” Joiner said. “Just a good all around guy.”

Rep. Steve Hurst, D-Munford, said he last spoke with Fite on Sunday afternoon. It was a conversation about ordinary things, the needs of the community, plans for the next campaign. Fite sounded well and was in good spirits, Hurst said.

“I got to know Lea when Lea was on the County Commission and I was in the Legislature,” Hurst said. “We worked together for several years. He and I talked a lot about politics. He always tried to help his constituents. He was very generous with his money. He gave a way thousands of dollars in groceries from his stores. He’s gonna be missed and like I said he and I developed a great friendship.”

Commissioner Rudy Abbott took over Fite’s seat when Fite ran for the Legislature. The two spoke every day about the needs of their overlapping districts, Abbott said. He said most of Fite’s good deeds went unsung.

“He loved schools and the school kids and he loved the volunteer fire department,” Abbott said. “I’d say those were the closest to his heart. He was always trying to find ways to help them.”

With the opening of the legislative session looming in January, moves to fill Fite’s vacancy in the House could come swiftly. In a few days, Gov. Bob Riley’s office will contact the local parties to discuss a special election for Fite’s replacement, spokesman Todd Stacy said.