This won't mean much to non-St. Louisans, but I received the sad news this morning of the untimely death of County Executive Buzz Westfall.

The way St. Louis is set up, it is divided into St. Louis City and St. Louis County, which are roughly divided by the man-made River Des Peres. St. Louis County is actually more populous than the City, and as County Executive for the past 13 years, Buzz was essentially the mayor of St. Louis County.

I bumped into him frequently around the time St. Louis was trying to lure the Rams. He was always happy to talk, and was as important as anyone in town to bringing the NFL back. Westfall was a bigger-than-life bear of a guy who always seemed to be having a good time. There were things I disagreed with him on (he was, after all, a Democrat), but he was frequently right (being a former prosecutor) and was impossible not to like.

He'll be missed, and St. Louis won't be quite as good without him.