By KWMU/AP
St. Louis, MO – George "Buzz" Westfall, St. Louis County's top elected official for the past 13 years, died today. A spokesman for Westfall's office, Mac Scott, said at a news conference tonight that the 59-year-old Westfall died at 4:46 p.m.
Westfall was serving his fourth term as county executive. He had been out of office since October First and entered Christian Hospital Northeast on October Fifth for what he believed would be back surgery. He had suffered chronic back problems for much of his adult life.
Instead, doctors discovered a staph infection in Westfall's spine. Not long thereafter, he was placed in a drug-induced state of unconsciousness. His condition deteriorated in recent days and he was removed from a ventilator.