Republic of the Marshall Islands resident, Tony de Brum died Monday, in the capital city of Majuro, at the age of 72. De Brum, a Tuvala native, was instrumental in securing independence for the island nation, in 1979, as well as a Compact of Free Association with the U.S. Government. De Brum had an enduring distinguished political career, serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Health and the Environment for the RMI. He often spent time in the Arkansas Ozarks