James "Jimmy" Durbin, a former mayor of Denham Springs who served three terms in that role after 13 years on the City Council, died Tuesday morning at the age of 76.
Durbin was instrumental in bringing Bass Pro Shop, a landmark along Interstate 12, to Denham Springs and developing a business corridor in the area that "brought us out of the stone ages," current Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry said.
Durbin's administration also updated the city's utility systems, adding new water wells and water towers, upgrading water lines and adding more fire hydrants.
Durbin was first elected mayor in December 2002. He chose not to run for a fourth term in 2014, saying he wanted to travel and spend more time with his family after undergoing treatment for cancer.
"I've been on two vacations," Durbin said then about his 12 years as mayor.
Durbin later served under Gov. John Bel Edwards as the co-chair of the Restore Louisiana Task Force.
"Jimmy was a close friend and, when I ran for mayor, he took me under his wing," Landry said. "It was a great relationship, and he's been an asset all this time."
"I cannot tell you how much I will miss him," he said.