Bill Hogan, a longtime politician from Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, died Wednesday at the age of 84.

Hogan’s political career began in the 1960s. He served as mayor of Dunville for 20 years until 1989, when he was elected Liberal MLA for Placentia District.

“If you talked to anyone in this community, they would talk about the respect they had for Mr. Hogan,” Keith Pearson, the current mayor of Placentia, told CBC News on Wednesday.

“He was a strong man. But you know what? He was direct. He was a colorful man. He got things done. He never just sat back and waited for someone else to do something or wait for something to come to him.”

Hogan would go on to be appointed Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs by former Premier Clyde Wells.

After his time in the House of Assembly, he returned to municipal politics as mayor of Placentia from 1997 to 2001 and again from 2005 to 2014.

The current Liberal MP for Placentia-St. Mary’s, Sherry Gambin-Walsh, was born and raised in the community where Hogan was a political leader for 44 years and grew quite close to the outspoken politician.

“He was a mentor and a great supporter. He was an adviser and above all, he was a friend,” Gambin-Walsh told CBC News.

“He absolutely loved politics. He really loved it. Mr. Hogan, who grew up in the Placentia area, he was a softball coach, mayor and a family man.”

Gambin-Walsh said she would take Hogan’s advice often throughout her own career, saying he was a down-to-earth man who would always speak his mind.

“He was going to tell you how it was, whether you wanted to hear it or not,” Gambin-Walsh said.

In a press release on Thursday, acting PC chief David Brazil offered his condolences to Hogan’s family.

“Bill Hogan has served the people of Placentia and the surrounding area for decades with passion and integrity,” Brazil said.

“The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are indebted to Mr. Hogan after 44 years of loyal public service.

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