Former State Rep. Joe McGill, who represented Bristol Bay from 1965 to 1976, is dead at age 76.

McGill died Sunday night at his home following a lengthy illness.

McGill, who was born Jan. 13, 1924, in Masury, Ohio, joined the Marine Corps at the outbreak of World War II and served in the South Pacific. He was awarded two purple hearts for wounds suffered in combat on Guadalcanal and New Guinea.

McGill came to Alaska in 1946 and made Dillingham his home. He joined the local school board and was elected mayor three times.

He succeeded Jay Hammond as Bristol Bay's representative to the Alaska Legislature and served 12 years. During his term, he worked to protect rights of resident commercial fishermen and helped establish a co-op to allow local fishermen to participate in the developing herring fishery.

Gov. Tony Knowles ordered state flags flown at half-staff through Wednesday.