Paul Verdon, 85, a longtime Montana newspaper editor and a former researcher for the state Legislative Council, died Friday at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena.

He suffered from Parkinson’s disease.

Verdon was editor and publisher of the Western News in Libby from 1960 to 1979. Under his direction, the paper chronicled the construction of the Libby Dam and the vast changes in the community that came with activity from the massive federal project.

While Verdon was editor, the Montana Press Association three times named the paper the outstanding weekly in the state.

Earlier, he worked at the Phillips County News and the Great Falls Tribune.

After selling the paper in 1979, Verdon and his family moved to Helena and he was hired as a legislative researcher in 1980.

He generally worked on issues concerning business, economic development, transportation and mineral taxation. He became an authority on the coal severance tax.

He retired from the council in 1992.

However, shortly afterward he spent seven months helping staff a commission appointed by Gov. Stan Stephens to fix problems in the state’s workers compensation system.

In his retirement, Verdon volunteered at a number of local nonprofit organizations, including the Montana Historical Society.

He had a deep interest in Montana and U.S. history.