PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. — People across Arkansas have been pausing to remember former Pulaski County Judge and Little Rock Mayor F.G. "Buddy" Villines.
He passed away on Saturday night at the age of 76.
"He was a dear friend. And we had worked together on all kinds of community projects," Former Little Rock Mayor, Jim Dailey said.
Floyd Villines, better known as "Buddy" was exactly that. He was a "buddy" to lots of people in Central Arkansas.
Dailey was the longest-serving Little Rock Mayor from 1993 to 2006 and he worked closely alongside Villines when he served as Pulaski County Judge.
"One of the successes that was realized during the time that he was in office. Mayor Hays in North Little Rock and I was Mayor in Little Rock is that we had we developed a friendship," Dailey explained.
Soon enough they were given the nickname, "the three amigos."
"Very early on, we began to sit down together and work out plans for what we wanted to accomplish, and almost universally for the broader community," Dailey added.
Dailey has also been grieving former North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays' death that happened just earlier this month.
"I was there a long time, Buddy was there a long time, Pat was there a long time," he said.
"While Buddy is remembered as a good friend, he's also remembered as a good leader," Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde said.
One of the projects that Villines was most known for is the Big Dam Bridge.
He also oversaw Two Rivers Bridge, Simmons Bank Arena, and the Statehouse Convention Center expansion.
"Buddy's biggest legacy is really pulling people together and getting things done," Judge Hyde described.
Judge Hyde also said Villines did a lot for the local economy.
"He understood the very ground level of what it takes to provide services to the community and make sure that there are jobs and security, and all the things that we look for in the community where we live," Judge Hyde explained.
That's one of the things he'll remember for years to come.
"Buddy loved the community. And, you know, everybody loved buddy," Judge Hyde said.
Villines' time as County Judge spanned over two decades from 1991 to 2014.
There is no word yet on funeral arrangements, but we will update with the information once we know more.