Longtime Hay River resident Red McBryan dies

Hay River, N.W.T., resident Red McBryan, the town's first mayor and a longtime river breakup watcher, has died. He was 92 years old.

McBryan, who passed away early Wednesday morning, was the father of Buffalo Airways founder "Buffalo Joe" McBryan.

Joe McBryan told CBC News that his father moved to Hay River in 1949 and became the community's first mayor.

"He thought of Hay River and himself as sort of like partners, like a joint venture. He never had a hidden agenda, nor did he ever work on a vendetta, so as a politician he was very well-liked," McBryan said Thursday.

"I used to hear the phone ring and some [calls were] as simple as ravens in the garbage cans, or the ice bridge was out, or the fill was out, or the ferry was sinking they all had the same attention."

Hay River, located 200 kilometres south of Yellowknife, today has a population of about 3,650.

Red McBryan was known for his extensive knowledge about the Hay River's annual spring breakup, which occasionally results in flooding. He was a member of the town's flood watch committee.

Joe McBryan said his father has been good for Hay River, but the town has also been good to him.

Red McBryan's funeral will take place in Hay River next Wednesday.