Bennett Malone, a Democrat who served nearly 36 years in the Mississippi House, has died after a long illness. He was 73.His wife, Teresa Malone, announced his death Sunday. Bennett Malone was from Carthage and represented a House district that included parts of Leake, Neshoba, Rankin and Scott counties. The former cattle farmer and businessman was elected in 1979 and later became chairman of the House Corrections Committee.Current Rep. Tom Miles says Malone "wasn't afraid to stand up for the little man."Malone resigned in early 2015 after having West Nile disease and an aneurism.He died weeks after his wife pleaded guilty to paying kickbacks to a former state corrections commissioner for her role as a consultant. Teresa Malone faces up to 10 years in federal prison.