Mr Harold Gracey, the Portadown Orange leader during the Drumcree disputes, has died following a long illness.
Tributes to him were paid by other Orangemen, clergy and unionist representatives.
Mr Gracey joined the Orange Order's junior institution at the age of seven before joining a senior lodge at 16.
He became district master of the Portadown Lodge, Loyal Orange Lodge 1, 18 years ago. He played a pivotal role in the series of bitter clashes between marchers and the police which erupted when the marchers' usual return route along the nationalist Garvaghy Road in the Co Armagh town was blocked in 1998.
Orangemen have mounted a weekly token protest ever since on Drumcree hill near the Church of Ireland church where the local lodge commemorated the Battle of the Somme every July.
Serious violence has erupted many times as marchers confronted the police and British army at the barricade. Rioting elsewhere in Northern Ireland was also provoked by the stand-off.
In one notorious incident three young Catholic boys, Jason, Mark and Richard Quinn, died when their home in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, was petrol-bombed.
Mr Gracey sparked controversy during the 2000 dispute when he said he would not condemn any violence linked to Drumcree protests because Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams never condemned republican violence.
Mr David Jones hailed Mr Gracey as a "true lifelong Orangeman". "Harold made a massive contribution to the Orange Order and particularly the Portadown District," he said.
"He was an individual who was very strong in his commitment to civil and religious freedom for all. That is why he could not abide by the Parades Commission's decision to bar Orangemen walking home along their traditional route from Drumcree parish church."
The Rev Jim Rea, President of the Methodist Church, said: "Harold Gracey was an honest Ulsterman who had strong convictions and principles."