By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – A former leader in the Missouri Green Party has died.
The party says Willie Marshall died over the weekend after a long bout with lung and heart problems. He was 65.
Marshall was the Green candidate for St. Louis Mayor two years ago and gained 21% of the vote against Francis Slay, a total that's still the highest percentage for any Green in city election history.
He also ran for Public Administrator in 2004 but only gained 10% of the vote against incumbent Gerard Nester. Marshall's party involvement also included chairing both the Missouri Green Party and the St. Louis Green Party Central Committee.
Funeral services will be Saturday (July 21) at 11 am at the Muhammad Academy, 3625 N. Garrison [a block east of Natural Bridge & Grand]. He will be buried on Sunday next to his mother's grave in Centralia, Ill.