Somebody will succeed George Lane as mayor of Pinehurst. But nobody can truly take his place.

The genial mayor, who died this week after an earlier fall in his home, was a common sight in the -village and around the county. As those who knew him best have described him, he was happiest among the people, discussing village and county business. He enjoyed rubbing elbows with residents in public places. He was quick with a joke or humorous remark.

Lane truly loved Pinehurst and Moore County, and he always had the best interest of the community at heart. He was the driving force behind the creation of the Moore County Summit, an organization devoted to creating a forum in which officials from all local jurisdictions could get together and discuss common concerns.

Though Lane was measured and soft-spoken in expressing himself, he could be strong-willed and -opinionated - so much so that those who disagreed with him might have thought he was stubborn. He was dogged in the pursuit of his ideas, even if they were controversial.

Lane will forever be strongly identified with the -village's proposed $5.5 million purchase of a water and wastewater treatment plant near Wagram in Scotland County. Water always remained at the forefront of his mind, and he passionately believed that Wagram could be a solution to Pinehurst's water problems and those of the entire region.

Not everyone likes the Wagram proposal, and it may ultimately fail. The Scotland County Board of Commissioners may never approve the deal. Perhaps it just isn't feasible. But it's hard to knock Lane's innovative and outside-the-box thinking on that issue and -others.

Lane was a visionary who saw the possibilities and didn't get bogged down in what the obstacles were. That may be his legacy. He could see the big picture. He had a vision and tried to find creative ways to realize it. His energetic -leadership will be greatly missed.

Right up to his death, Lane was bullish on Pinehurst's future. He worked tirelessly not only on behalf of the village, but also with our other -municipalities to find solutions for the entire county. The next mayor of Pinehurst will certainly have big shoes to fill, but we're hopeful that he or she will follow the good example left behind by George Lane.