Governor gets check 6 years late

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Bob Holden received an early Christmas gift from the state treasurer's office Tuesday -- a check for $349.

Treasurer Nancy Farmer said that her predecessor received the check from the state's Unclaimed Property Division for a policy benefit claim from Gulf Insurance Company of Irving, Texas.

Holden served as treasurer from 1993 until 2000, when he was elected governor.

The insurance check was mistakenly sent to Holden's St. Louis address six years ago when the Democrat was working for U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo.

The state's Unclaimed Property Division is holding more than $200 million in abandoned funds and other assets. Farmer said the office's Internet site contains the names of 1.4 million owners of unclaimed property in Missouri.