Despite the disease, Kemp, the founder and chairman of Kemp Partners, said he would continue to work as chairman of his Washington-based Kemp Partners consulting firm. He would also remain involved in charitable and political work.

 

According to the statement from his consulting firm, “Mr. Kemp as his family are grateful for the thoughts and prayers of friends and appreciate respect for their privacy at this time.”

 

He made a name for himself in Buffalo, first as a quarterback, and then as congressman from the 38th district in Hamburg. Kemp spent 13 years as a quarterback for the San Diego Chargers and the Buffalo Bills. The American politician began his political career with nine terms as a Congressman for Western New York, from 1071 to 1989. He is also known for serving as Housing Secretary in the George W. Bush administration.

 

In 1996, Kemp was Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole’s running mate for Vice President.

 

The case follows another terrible one: Patrick Swayze’s diagnosis; the actor said he does not know how long he would live after his cancer diagnosis, but said he would like to live long for a cure to be found. The Golden Globe-nominated actor started chemotherapy along with the experimental drug Vatalanib, as surgery was not an option for him.