William “Bill” Gaskin was a good politician because he wasn’t actually one at all.

The quiet, intelligent man who served as Sout­h Point’s mayor for the past 30 years was able to excel at his job and win eight elections because he did the one thing many politicians today fail at miserably: Not worry about votes and just do the right thing.

Gaskin passed away Friday leaving friends, family and his community mourning the loss of a man who led with his actions and did what he said he would.

The man has been credited with much of the progress and development in the village and has been credited with improving the village park, creating a boat ramp park, resurfacing village streets, expanding water and sewer services and developing the U.S. 52 overpass that now bears his name.

Gaskin will also be missed by his peers in local government, all of whom had nothing but praise for the Feesburg native who called Lawrence County home.

Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship said Gaskin taught him a lot.

“Mayor Gaskin has given me a lot of good advice over the last two years that I have been mayor and has been a true inspiration to me,” Blankenship said. “The best thing that he has told me is to do what is right and let the chips fall where they may. You can never go wrong by doing what is right.”

That is a philosophy that has served Gaskin, the village of South Point and, ultimately, all of Lawrence County very well.

Gaskin will be missed greatly but his legacy will live on with the prosperity of the community he loved and the lives that he touched.