PEORIA (AP) — A former three-term mayor of Peoria who led the central Illinois city through a difficult economic time has died at age 93.

Jim Maloof died Saturday at his home while surrounded by family in Peoria, his son Nick Maloof told The Associated Press.

The Peoria native and owner of a real estate agency was often called "the cheerleading mayor" while serving as the city's mayor from 1985 to 1997. He first ran for office when he was 65 years old, when unemployment was high, Caterpillar Inc. was laying off union workers and other businesses had closed.