U.S. Rep. John Murtha, who was born in New Martinsville on June 17, 1932, died February 8, 2010. He was 77.

The Pennsylvania Democrat had been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. He died at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., spokesman Matthew Mazonkey said.

While he was born in New Martinsville, Murtha and his family left the area shortly thereafter.

He served in the Pennsylvania House in Harrisburg from 1969 until he was elected to Congress in a special election in 1974. Murtha often delivered Democratic votes to Republican leaders in exchange for the funding of pet projects.