The chairman of Bradley University's board of trustees and CEO of Illinois Mutual Life Insurance Co. has died.

Mike McCord died Wednesday night. A spokeswoman for the insurance company says he had cancer.

McCord served as president of the family-run Illinois Mutual life Insurance Co. for 28 years before becoming CEO and chairman in 2011. He was the fourth generation of his family to run the company.

McCord also was a member of the Peoria Riverfront Museum board of directors and involved with the Salvation Army and the United Way.

Longtime Illinois Mutual receptionist Joy Lowery told the Peoria newspaper that McCord was a very special man to all of us.