Marion County Road Superintendent Neil Webb has died, county leaders said Tuesday.
Webb, 61, died Monday evening from an apparent heart attack at Parkridge West Hospital in Jasper, Marion County Mayor David Jackson said.
"It was a great loss for our community," Jackson said. "Neil was a great person and he was great to work with. He cared about his men and he cared about his job. He kept the office operating as efficiently as he could.
He was a good man," Jackson said.
A longtime friend of Webb's announced the news to county Democrats in an email.
"It is my sad duty to inform you of the passing of Neil Webb, Marion County's Road Superintendent," Jim Lewis wrote in an email Tuesday. "Neil has been my friend for many years and he has served the people of Marion County well as a longtime employee of the Marion County Highway Department and for many years as superintendent."
Webb was seeking re-election, and Lewis said he still plans to vote for Webb "to honor his service to our county and our friendship."
Administrator of Elections Gary Reames said Webb's name will remain on the August ballot against Republican challenger James "Jim" Hawk.
Webb was appointed to the road superintendent post when it was vacated in 2010 by John Graham.
Graham became county mayor, replacing the late David Kirk.
Hawk previously challenged Webb in the 2012 race for road superintendent.