Paul Verdon, former owner, editor and publisher of The Western News, has died. Verdon, who was 85, died Friday, Feb. 17.

Verdon’s tenure at The Western News from 1960 to 1979, at which point, he sold the newspaper. Under Verdon’s direction, the paper chronicled the construction of the Libby Dam and the changes in the community that came with activity from the massive federal project.

During that time, Verdon was photographed with President Lyndon Johnson, later with President Richard Nixon as the first load of concrete was poured and then at the dedication with President Gerald Ford at the dam site.

According to former The Western News employee Mike Cuffe, who was news editor during Verdon’s tenure from 1972 to 1978, Verdon was like none other.

“Paul was an excellent weekly, small-newspaper man,” said Cuffe, now a state representative. “He was a good reporter and good businessman. He was fair and compassionate and, yet, the story got told,” Cuffe said.

Cuffe, who stopped by The Western News office upon hearing of Verdon’s death, said among his most memorable moments with Verdon was walking across the top of the dam with President Ford on the eve of the dedication.

“He was a great mentor,” Cuffe said. “He was the kind of guy who you were proud to say you worked for.”

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.

A World War II veteran, Verdon will be buried at 11 a.m. today, Friday, Feb. 24, at Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison.

A full obituary appears online at TheWesternNews.com