Buzz Westfall
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George "Buzz" Westfall (March 19, 1944 - October 27, 2003) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as County Executive of St. Louis County, Missouri from 1991 until his death. He was a Democrat.
Westfall grew up in public housing in St. Louis. He attended St. Louis University High School and graduated from Saint Louis University with his BA and JD degrees. After completing law school, he was hired by Gene McNary to work in the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's office. In 1978, when McNary left the prosecutor's office and was elected County Executive, Westfall was elected to McNary's former position. He was re-elected in 1982 and 1986.
In 1989, McNary was appointed Director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in the administration of President George H. W. Bush. Republican H.C. Milford was appointed to fill the remainder of McNary's term. In 1990, Westfall was the Democratic nominee for the County Executive's position, and he defeated Milford in his bid for re-election. Westfall was re-elected County Executive in 1994, 1998, and 2002. In October 2003, less than a year into his new term of office, Westfall died after developing a staph infection. Charlie Dooley was appointed to fill the remainder of his term.
Following Westfall's death, his friends and family established a charitable enterprise, the Buzz Westfall Memorial Fund, in his honor. The Memorial Fund, now known as the Buzz Westfall Charitable Foundation, is a non-profit enterprise established to further Westfall's legacy of bettering the community through charitable works. The Foundation raises funds via an annual golf tournament, among other various events.
Westfall Lane, a street in Florissant, Missouri, was dedicated to the memory of Mr. Westfall in early 2004.[citation needed] Other memorials include the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton, Missouri, and the Buzz Westfall Memorial Highway, a portion of Highway 364 in St. Louis County.
