The Niagara County Legislature has announced the death of vice chairman and first district representative Clyde Burmaster.
Burmaster, a Republican from Ransomville, had served in the Legislature since 1994. He served 18 years as vice chairman and three years as chairman.
He chaired the public works committee for seven years and served as a tireless advocate for environmental concerns.
Burmaster was an E-5 U.S. Army Sergeant from the Vietnam War era and was a member of the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company.
Burmaster died Monday at the age of 78 after a long illness.
A wake will be held at the Hardison Funeral Homes in Ransomville on Thursday from 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. from the funeral home.